Choosing Courage: The Everyday Guide to Being Brave at Work

Choosing Courage is an inspirational, practical, and research-based guide for standing up and speaking out skillfully at work.

As the world’s foremost expert on workplace courage, Jim Detert leverages his 20 years of research and work on workplace courage – why people speak up or stay silent – to help unpack why courage matters and how we can build our skills to choose courage more often. The reality is that we all have opportunities to be courageous at work. But since courage requires risk—to our reputations, our social standing, and, in some cases, our jobs—we often fail to act, which leaves us feeling powerless and regretful for not doing what we know is right. There’s a better way to handle these crucial moments.

Doing for courage what Angela Duckworth has done for grit and Brené Brown for vulnerability, Jim Detert explains that courage isn’t a character trait that only a few possess; it’s a virtue developed through practice. And with the right attitude and approach, you can learn to hone it like any other skill and incorporate it into your everyday life. Choosing Courage will give you a fresh perspective on the power of voicing your authentic ideas and opinions. Whether you’re looking to make a mark, stay true to your values, act with more integrity, or simply grow as a professional, this is the guide you need to achieve greater impact at work.