Why am I passionate about this?

I am a global executive coach, speaker, and author with over 30 years of diverse experience. My career includes serving as a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps and two decades as a global leadership coach. I have collaborated with new, emerging, and executive leaders across various industries in the U.S., China, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Puerto Rico, Ireland, and the Netherlands. I believe that true leadership is built on a commitment to the mission, clear expectations, and the ability to improvise, adapt, and overcome any obstacle. I hold a Ph.D. in Organization and Leadership Development from the University of Minnesota.


I wrote...

The Seven Mistakes New Managers Make

By Janet Polach,

Book cover of The Seven Mistakes New Managers Make

What is my book about?

Whether you are a manager of many or a team leader of a few, being a leader requires letting go…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life

Janet Polach Why did I love this book?

I listened to it as an audio, and it was amazing! One of the most delightful books I’ve ever experienced. The husband and wife team, including world-renowned conductor Benjamin Zander, describe strategies for living your best life. The concepts come to life when Benjamin Zander provides orchestral examples in the background or measures from the classics. It’s a full listening experience!

By Rosamund Stone Zander, Benjamin Zander,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Art of Possibility as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Presenting twelve breakthrough practices for bringing creativity into all human endeavors, The Art of Possibility is the dynamic product of an extraordinary partnership. The Art of Possibility combines Benjamin Zander's experience as conductor of the Boston Philharmonic and his talent as a teacher and communicator with psychotherapist Rosamund Stone Zander's genius for designing innovative paradigms for personal and professional fulfillment.
The authors' harmoniously interwoven perspectives provide a deep sense of the powerful role that the notion of possibility can play in every aspect of life. Through uplifting stories, parables, and personal anecdotes, the Zanders invite us to become passionate communicators,…


Book cover of Voice of the Innovator: How the Voice of the Innovator Can Be Cultivated in Individuals, Teams and Organizations

Janet Polach Why did I love this book?

Author Jacqueline Byrd has spent her life researching and delivering insight on how to create innovations in organizations. The leader doesn’t have to be innovative to create breakthrough thinking.

She needs to surround herself with individuals who will challenge the status quo and leverage creativity and risk-taking to deliver novel ideas, two key tenants in the book. She’s interviewed a number of truly innovative thinkers and shares their perspectives on breakthrough thinking.  

By Jacqueline Byrd,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Voice of the Innovator as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"This book is an absolute gift for those who are curious trailblazers." Jacqueline Berglund

"What characteristics does it take to be an innovator and what challenges can you expect to face? Byrd's oftentimes look at the lives of innovators gives inspiration to those who struggle to enact innovation in our organizations. The insight provided by successful innovators describing their own challenges is motivation to keep up the good fight". Brent Edwards, Ph.D

In the VOICE OF THE INNOVATOR, Dr Jacqueline Byrd provides:
-seven powerful drivers for reigniting creativity and risk-taking in ourselves
-insights from world famous innovators on what drove…


Book cover of Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things

Janet Polach Why did I love this book?

In the audio version of Adam Grant’s book, he shares his fun-loving but highly researched perspectives on how we can appreciate the unique qualities of each individual with whom we interact and those who have been overlooked. He encourages us all to improve and provides several strategies to do just that.

By Adam Grant,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Hidden Potential as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

#1 New York Times Bestseller

“This brilliant book will shatter your assumptions about what it takes to improve and succeed. I wish I could go back in time and gift it to my younger self. It would’ve helped me find a more joyful path to progress.”
—Serena Williams, 23-time Grand Slam singles tennis champion

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again illuminates how we can elevate ourselves and others to unexpected heights.

We live in a world that’s obsessed with talent. We celebrate gifted students in school, natural athletes in sports, and child prodigies in music. But…


Book cover of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable

Janet Polach Why did I love this book?

This simple yet compelling tale of an organization’s executive team has spoken to dozens of executives about how they can overcome resistance and get their team to pull in the same direction. The characters are well defined and the challenges they face are commonplace. And it can be read on a plane ride.  

By Patrick M. Lencioni,

Why should I read it?

8 authors picked The Five Dysfunctions of a Team as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In The Five Dysfunctions of a Team Patrick Lencioni once again offers a leadership fable that is as enthralling and instructive as his first two best-selling books, The Five Temptations of a CEO and The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive. This time, he turns his keen intellect and storytelling power to the fascinating, complex world of teams. Kathryn Petersen, Decision Tech's CEO, faces the ultimate leadership crisis: Uniting a team in such disarray that it threatens to bring down the entire company. Will she succeed? Will she be fired? Will the company fail? Lencioni's utterly gripping tale serves as…


Book cover of The Thin Book of Trust: An Essential Primer for Building Trust at Work

Janet Polach Why did I love this book?

Charles Feltman’s book unlocks the many dimensions of trust that we struggle to understand. Feltman abandons the premise that you are either trusted or not. Care, reliability, security, and competence all conspire together to promote or damage trust with others. He thoroughly discusses each and shares ways to foster them in our daily interactions. 

By Charles Feltman,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Thin Book of Trust as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

It’s been over 12 years since The Thin Book of Trust was first published. In the 2nd edition, you will find more clarifications, ideas to practice, and other additions including a new chapter on how to build trust on a team.

The updated Thin Book of Trust offers a framework that supports trust building as a workplace competency. It is based on the idea that building trust is a competency, a set of skills that can be learned, improved and practiced. It will help you continuously improve your ability to build and maintain trust with others. It can also help…


Explore my book 😀

The Seven Mistakes New Managers Make

By Janet Polach,

Book cover of The Seven Mistakes New Managers Make

What is my book about?

Whether you are a manager of many or a team leader of a few, being a leader requires letting go of the day-to-day work tasks you did so well as an individual contributor and, instead, encouraging production and success through others. New managers are usually promoted because they are outstanding individual contributors. Yet, these characteristics are not the same ones that will make you successful as a frontline leaders.

Often, organizations invest little in new manager development; thus, new managers are left to guess what effective leaders do. They often find themselves pressing forward through trial and error. If this sounds familiar, then this book is for you. 

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in innovation, teamwork, and economics?

Innovation 84 books
Teamwork 16 books
Economics 409 books