The Courageous Messenger

Have you ever been in the position of having to speak up about something at work but been very worried about the consequences of doing so? I’m sure everyone has. We often take what seems the easy way out and don’t speak up at all. So the bad practice, or worse, bad behaviour continues.

This book doesn’t shy away from the fact that it takes courage to be a messenger, especially about difficult issues. It explains in very practical ways what to do and what not to do in such circumstances, how to find the courage and assess the risks involved, and how to go through the process step by step, including preparation and follow-through. What I like about the book is that it answers the big questions (how, what, why, where and when), and does so in a straightforward no-jargon way. Another strength of the book is that it encourages self-reflection at each stage. As someone who has not always thought before he spoke and suffered the consequences, I really appreciated this.

This book has something to teach all of us, not least about ourselves. Being a courageous messenger requires both leadership and courage. The pay-off can’t always be seen on the outside, but can certainly be felt on the inside.