The Courage to Act

About the Author

Merom Klein is a distinguished professional with 15 years of experience as CEO of Key Management Strategies, a U.S.-based training and consulting firm. He earned his Ph.D. from Temple University, emphasizing the importance of leadership and courage in the business world. Rod Napier, co-author of The Courage to Act, has written 10 books and has extensive experience working with prestigious clients like CBS, Exxon, and the United Nations. Napier pioneered the concept of 360-degree feedback during his tenure as a professor at Temple University.

Main Idea

The Courage to Act by Merom Klein and Rod Napier explores the essential role of courage in the modern business environment. In a time of constant change and uncertainty, courage is not just for extraordinary acts but is vital for everyday high performance. The book outlines five key factors of courage—candor, purpose, will, rigor, and risk—and provides strategies to build and inspire these qualities within teams and organizations.

Table of Contents

1. Why Courage Now?
2. The Five Factors of Courage
3. Building Individual and Team Courage
4. Imbuing Others with Courage
5. Dealing with Conflict

Why Courage Now?

The book begins by addressing the necessity of courage in today's fast-paced and ever-changing business environment. Unlike the hierarchical and stable structures of the past, modern organizations are more fluid, with semi-autonomous teams and virtual partnerships. This dynamic landscape requires influence and trust rather than command and control. Leaders must compete for resources, visibility, and support, all while managing knowledge gaps and navigating complex team structures.

The Five Factors of Courage

The core of The Courage to Act is the five factors of courage: candor, purpose, will, rigor, and risk. Each factor is crucial for fostering a courageous culture within an organization.

Candor: The Courage to Speak and Hear the Truth

Candor is the foundation of courage. It involves the willingness to speak honestly and to accept feedback without fear of repercussion. The authors highlight that candor cannot be mandated but must be cultivated. They provide examples of how a lack of candor can lead to significant failures, such as the collapse of Enron. Candor enables teams to act swiftly and skillfully, avoiding the pitfalls of misinformation and deception.

"Candor is the one upon which everything else is built. If individuals on a team are inhibited from speaking the truth, or if they fail to take feedback about their current reality to heart, they might fail to act quickly enough or skillfully enough." - Merom Klein and Rod Napier

fostering candor include:

• Encouraging open dialogue and active listening during meetings.
• Creating safe spaces for team members to share their thoughts without fear of criticism.
• Regularly soliciting feedback and acting on it transparently.

Purpose: The Courage to Pursue Lofty Goals

Purpose drives individuals and teams to achieve beyond mere numbers. It connects daily work to a broader mission, making tasks meaningful and engaging. The authors stress that leadership involves tying organizational goals to a higher sense of purpose, inspiring dedication and hard work.

"We work hardest when we feel personally connected to the outcomes we are achieving—when the work is personally meaningful, gratifying and interesting." - Merom Klein and Rod Napier

To instill purpose, leaders can: