Reach

October 3, 2016
Reaching beyond one’s comfort zone is hard, but the rewards can be well worth it, explains Molinsky (Global Dexterity), a professor of organizational behavior at Brandeis, in this important self-help tome. After managing to overcome his fear of public speaking for the sake of his academic career, Molinsky became fascinated with helping others make similar breakthroughs. He lays out his three-pronged approach: conviction, making sure the gain is worth the discomfort; customization, designing a personalized baby-step plan; and clarity, reflecting on the reasons behind one’s fear of challenges. Readers will find the customization section to be the most useful and interesting: it effectively explains how they can lessen discomfort by designing their own strategies for accomplishing ambitious goals. Having researched and interviewed successful figures from numerous fields, including doctors, executives, and rabbis, Molinsky delivers an informative take on the subject of behavioral change. Readers will be inspired by his bumper crop of well-chosen stories about people overcoming their fear and reaching beyond the familiar. People interested in pursuing new ventures will find Molinsky’s advice invaluable.