Communicate with Courage: Taking Risks to Overcome the Four Hidden Challenges

by Michelle D. Gladieux

Overview

Life becomes less complicated as we grow as communicators. There’s often more we can do to improve our interactions than we realize.

We don’t have to live with regret about what we could have said or how we should have listened. This timely, timeless bravery manual teaches which risks to take and how to engage in ways that don’t cost us our personal peace.

Michelle’s tips read like a heartfelt conversation with a trusted friend—one who happens to have decades of experience coaching people from all walks of life. When we fall into sneaky, fear-based patterns, we’re robbed of the joy of communicating skillfully and confidently. Readers of Communicate with Courage learn how to overcome four hidden challenges:

• Hiding: Avoiding risks we need to take to realize our potential
• Defining: Needing to be right rather than approachable and open
• Rationalizing: Shielding ourselves from honest feedback, conflict, apologizing, asking for help, negotiating, and other scary but potentially rewarding Pro Moves
• Settling: Accepting "good enough" instead of stretching toward better outcomes

Through riveting real-life stories and practical exercises, Gladieux’s compassionate guidance builds self- and other-awareness in a wide variety of settings. This transformative approach has garnered national acclaim, earning the book eleven literary awards, including the following:

• Best Book Nonfiction, Outstanding Education – Independent Author Network
• Nonfiction 1st Place and Best Book Nonfiction – PenCraft Book Awards
• Nonfiction in Leadership/Think Differently Winner – Goody Book Awards
• Bronze Nonfiction Award – Readers’ Favorite Awards
• Communications Nonfiction Gold Prize – Global eBook Awards
• Nonfiction Book of the Year, Grand Prize – Independent Author Network

Whether you aim to improve work relationships or experience deeper personal connections, Communicate with Courage offers tools to make interactions easier and more enjoyable.

“Communicate with Courage is life-changing. Gladieux’s extraordinary empathy shines through with relatable examples from diverse worlds, from music to business to sports. You’ll read this book more than once. It will transform your relationship with yourself and other people.”
—Dr. Jillian Ihsanullah, leadership researcher

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781523003129
Publisher:	Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Publication date:	11/01/2022
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	6.06(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.49(d)

About the Author

Michelle Gladieux is President of Gladieux Consulting, a Midwest-based team known for the design and presentation of seminars in communication and leadership topics around the U.S. She facilitates strategic planning and executive coaching for clients in diverse industries, in governments, at non-profits, and in academia. She has 18 years of collegiate teaching experience at three universities in her home state of Indiana, accepting her first faculty position at age 23. She's worked as a Human Resources and Training Director in the cold storage, robotics, and construction industries and enjoys visiting conferences as a keynote speaker and workshop presenter. She's dedicated her professional life to helping employees at all levels GROW.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

Introduction 1

Chapter 1 Strength invulnerability (Saying "Nobody's Perfect," and Meaning It) 7

Chapter 2 Understand Risk to Improve Your Relationships and Career 27

Chapter 3 The Hunt for Hidden Challenges (The Blind Spots You Most Need to See) 39

Chapter 4 Hidden Challenge #1: Hiding from Risk 53

Chapter 5 Hidden Challenge #2: Defining to Be Right 65

Chapter 6 Hidden Challenge #3: Rationalizing the Negative 77

Chapter 7 Hidden Challenge #4: Settling for "Good Enough" 89

Chapter 8 Risks Not Worth Taking 101

Chapter 9 The Most Important Conversations to Have 111

Chapter 10 The Complete Risk-Taking Communicator 127

Conclusion 139

Notes 143

Gratitude 147

Index 151

About the Author 159

Editorial Reviews

“Communicating with courage is life changing. Michelle draws from extensive experience to provide immediately actionable Pro Moves. Her extraordinary empathy comes through with relatable examples from diverse worlds, from music to business to sports. You’ll read this book more than once because it will help you transform your relationship with yourself and other people.”
—Jillian Ihsanullah, PhD, leadership and inclusion researcher and former Senior Vice President, Right Management
 
“I wish I had read this book decades ago. Michelle provides immediately useful ways to shine a light on habits we often can’t see that get in the way of effective communication. An indispensable read.”
—Jonathan Walker, MD, founder of Modestly Mindful LLC
 
“I wanted to make sure my performance evaluations with my senior leaders were meaningful. I hired Michelle to help, and she taught me some of the Pro Moves in this wonderful book. You will benefit greatly from applying them to your own personal and professional life.”
—Karl W. Einolf, PhD, President, Indiana Institute of Technology

From the Publisher