The Courage Gap - by Margie Warrell (Paperback)

About the Book

"Close the gap between who you are and who you want to be with this guide from the bestselling author of You've Got This! and Brave. Through 5 simple but profound steps, you'll develop more courage, reclaim the power you've unwittingly surrendered to fear, and prepare to live your best and bravest life! Building the ability to take risks, make decisions amid ambiguity, make hard calls, and have tough conversations is critical to unlock your courageous capabilities, at work and at home. Margie Warrell harnesses her experience as a leadership and executive coach to deliver an actionable guide to a powerful way of thinking she calls a courage mindset. Introducing a 5-step guide to achieve courageous thinking: Be Before Do; Own Your Fear; Reframe Risk; Embrace Your Vulnerability; Choose Courage. The Courage Gap is not just for individuals, it's a guidebook for teams and organizations, too. As readers build stronger, more authentic relationships with others, develop their skill set for coupling candor and kindness in their relationships, grow their currency of trust and influence, they can then 'scale the courage mindset' to foster a 'culture of courage' in their teams, workplace and beyond. With stories, anecdotes, and research, The Courage Gap helps us shift our thinking and bring courage to the forefront of our lives for personal and professional growth and fulfillment. The Courage Gap provides a practical framework that connects the why of developing courage to the how-something often missing in literature on bravery"--

Book Synopsis

Do you hold back from speaking up, taking risks, or pursuing what you really want?

That hesitation--the space between knowing and doing--is the courage gap.

In this book, bestselling author of You've Got This! Margie Warrell delivers a practical, research-backed guide to overcoming fear, self-doubt, and impostor syndrome so you can lead, decide, and act with confidence.

Blending neuroscience, psychology, and real-world leadership coaching experience, Warrell reveals a powerful 5-step roadmap to help you rewire self-protective habits, silence your inner critic, and build everyday courage. From boardrooms to personal crossroads, she shows how to transform anxiety into clarity and bold action.

In this book, you will learn how to

• overcome fear of failure and rejection,
• build lasting confidence grounded in science,
• speak up with conviction,
• take smart, courageous risks, and
• close the gap between where you are and where you want to be.

For leaders, professionals, and anyone ready to stop playing small, The Courage Gap provides clear strategies to unlock resilience, elevate performance, and step fully into your bravest self.

Fear creates the gap. Courage closes it.

Review Quotes

"Magnificent! A compelling framework to toward more courage, less fear, and ultimately more effectiveness in our professional and personal lives."
--Amy C. Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership & Management, Harvard Business School, and author of Right Kind of Wrong and Fearless Organizations

"It takes courage to develop yourself and lead others. Here's where to find it."
--Hans Vestberg, Chairman and CEO, Verizon

"An enlightening and entertaining blueprint for the courage needed to live and lead effectively!"
--Kathy Calvin, former President and CEO, United Nations Foundation

"Essential reading to transform fear into a catalyst for growth for all who want to make a real difference in their leadership and in our world."
--Marshall Goldsmith, Thinkers50 #1 Coach and NYT bestselling author of The Earned Life

"Packed with insight and actionable advice, this book will help you take that step you've been putting off, rise faster when you fall, and thrive in every season of life."
--Chip Conley, CEO Modern Elders Academy and NYT bestselling author of Emotional Equations

"Beautifully crafted, this book is a powerful call to find the courage within and embrace the life you aspire to live."
--Jim Kouzes, coauthor of The Leadership Challenge and Fellow of the Doerr Institute for New Leaders, Rice University

"This isn't just a book--it's a lifeline! A bullseye on a critical subject!"
--General Stanley McChrystal (US Army, Ret), bestselling author of Team of Teams and Risk

"Ever hesitate to take action or speak up? You're not alone. Guided by a world-class coach, this book is your roadmap to bridge the gap from who you are to who you want to be."
--Chester Elton, bestselling author of The Carrot Principle and Anxiety at Work

"To outpace the fearful mind, we must grow the courageous heart. Brimming with practical wisdom, this book will show you how."
--Susan Brady, CEO, Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership

"Powerful and practical, this is an absolute must-read for anyone wanting to bridge the gap between the life they have and the life they desire most."
--Kirstin Ferguson, Thinkers50 #1 Leadership Thinker and author of Head & Heart

"The future belongs to the brave, making this profound reading for all who aspire to a deeply purposeful life...leading from the inside out!"
--Kevin Cashman, Vice Chairman, CEO, Enterprise Leadership, Korn Ferry, and bestselling author of Leadership from the Inside Out

"You know that you can do more and want to be braver. After reading this book, you will. In a time when so many hold back when they need to step forward, it should be compulsory reading for everyone."
--Rebecca Heino, PhD, Professor of Management, University of Southern California

"A timely roadmap to navigate a chaotic world, this book is essential reading for anyone seeking to chart their best path to a more fulfilling future."
--Paul Laudicina, Chairman Emeritus, Kearney, and founder of Global Business Council

"An insightful synthesis of evidence-based advice, this book gives you the tools to break free from the fears that have sabotaged your joy, empowering you to live more powerfully and lead more authentically. Prepare for lift off!"
--Michelle McQuaid, PhD, wellbeing and leadership researcher and author

"Dr. Margie Warrell provides a roadmap to defy your protective instincts, write new chapters, and bring dreams to life. You'll return to its pages many times as your story unfolds."
--Marcia Reynolds, author of Breakthrough Coaching

"In five powerful, life-changing steps, Warrell empowers you to face your insecurities and expand your bandwidth for brave action--to elevate your leadership and life!"
--Suzi Pomerantz, CEO, Innovative Leadership International

"Inspiring, funny, eminently relatable, and spanning the human condition from childhood to warrior to executive and family member, this is required reading for everyone in our abundant but troubled world."
--Wayne Hennessy-Barrett, founder of 4G Capital

About the Author

Margie Warrell, PhD, is a leadership authority with extensive international experience supporting leaders and businesses in transformative change agendas. A Senior Partner in Korn Ferry's Board, CEO and Leadership practice, Margie draws on her international background in Fortune 500 business, psychology, and coaching to help leaders accelerate change, incubate innovation, and cultivate more forward-leaning cultures.