THE COURAGE GAP

A guide to becoming a braver and less fearful leader.

Success is not for the meek—per Warrell, the braver you are, the more successful you will be. The author breaks down her path to success into five steps, which comprise the five major sections of this book: “Focus on What You Want, Not on What You Fear,” “Research What’s Kept You Scared or Too Safe,” “Breathe in Courage,” “Step into Discomfort,” and “Find the Treasure When You Trip.” These practices are all fleshed out in detail in an effort to help readers to wipe away fear and fill that gap with courage.  The first section sets up the rest of the book, hammering home the idea that readers should be focusing on what they want to achieve, not what scares them about that goal or their situation. “The fearful mind creates the gap,” Warrell writes. “The brave heart closes it.” The following chapters are devoted to ways to achieve this closure, including creating your “story,” or reality, in a way that will benefit you best; coming to embrace discomfort; and learning from your mistakes. The author sums it all up with a closing chapter on making those around you less fearful and more courageous, too. (“Measure yourself by how brave you make others feel,” she writes.) While the text contains some simplistic advice, such as admonitions to not cast yourself as the victim or become hemmed in by labels, Warrell, who has a background in business and psychology, also digs deeper at times, discussing how psychology and biology relate to her topics. There are some clever moments (the author describes human brains as “Teflon for good and Velcro for bad”), but some of Warrell’s advice comes off as a bit too elementary and disingenuous. For instance, her list of tips for telling your story includes using the word excited instead of scared and characterizing setbacks as learning experiences rather than failures. For the most part, though, this is a solid effort, filled with thoughtful guidance for overcoming the mundane.

On-point leadership advice outshines some overly simplistic counsel.