A Book Review: “The Survive and Thrive Toolkit for Leaders” by Monique Daigneault
This blog is a review of a book entitled “The Survive and Thrive Toolkit for Leaders” by Monique Daigneault. It’s a book that tackles topics related to soft skills and personal well-being, which we too often assume will just come naturally. Above all, it is essential for a successful career and a fulfilling life.
There is more to a successful career than being competent in a field. There is a mindset a person has to develop—an approach to navigating one's job or career. This includes developing skills such as how to overcome roadblocks, especially in larger corporations; dealing with bureaucracy; communicating effectively as a leader; asking for a promotion; and dealing with conflict. More importantly, as our careers evolve and as we grow, we take on more responsibility. It is the ability to manage the stresses that come with this, especially in leadership positions, that Monique’s book addresses.
Monique Daigneault draws from hard-earned wisdom, both personal and professional. In my interview with Monique https://www.thecareerguy.ca/episodes/life-lessons, she shared her path to coaching, including the lessons she’s learned from years of working, studying, and helping others excel. Her book reflects these insights, showing how leadership really starts with understanding ourselves, before we ever tackle company-wide initiatives or external challenges. This is an echo of my podcast as guests provide insight into their lives and careers.
It is because of my work that I am reviewing her book. In this article, I will share experiences from guests and relay them to Monique’s work. The structure of her book is organized into two pillars. Each comprises eight chapters that address the specifics. The first pillar focuses on well-being, which is putting ourselves in a good place. The second pillar is strategic, focusing on how to implement change.
Pillar One, Well-being
This first section delves into inner work. Daigneault argues that before leaders can inspire teams or make sound decisions, they must first cultivate a “good place” within themselves through reflection and self-care. The first pillar may be more challenging for some. Self-reflection changes our perspective of the world around us. This is how others will listen to us. My interview with Andy Read https://www.thecareerguy.ca/episodes/leading-an-amazing-life is an example.
In the segment, he discusses getting laid off due to budget cuts. As the new person, and with union regulations, his performance was dismissed. He was let go because he was the latest hire. This created resentment as he claims his hard work was not recognized. The bitterness led him to a life of drinking, adultery, and abusive behaviour.
In the interview, he recounts being at “rock bottom” and what that was like. Having his family take him back and discovering religion set him on a better path. It was then that the opportunity came, when he became the leader (manager), ironically, of the department from which he had been let go a few years earlier. Except this time, he was in a leadership position and had a different mindset.
In the interview, we discussed how the department became profitable under his influence. For him, it was being grounded by family support and religion. He is an example of someone who has been on both the good and not-so-good mindsets and the ramifications of each. He is an example of someone doing the internal work first, then the rest followed.
Being in a good place can boost creativity, as Anique Taylor describes in her interview https://www.thecareerguy.ca/episodes/inside-a-writers-mind. Anique is a writer; therefore, creativity is critical for her career. Anique deals with physical ailments that lead to depression. Anique describes how she works on her physical health, from exercise to good nutrition. It is this that puts her in a creative space to be a productive writer.
As stated at the start of this section. We need to be in a good place to perform well and make decisions. It is the personal care that fuels us for the challenges that will help us become successful.
Second Pillar, Process to Becoming a Leader
The second pillar addresses what it takes to deliver change. The book covers techniques for becoming a more proficient leader. The chapter entitled “Comprehending Your Vision, Mission, and Goals” talks about perspective. My interview with James Elian, CEO of AirSprint, is a perfect example of this. https://www.thecareerguy.ca/episodes/climbing-the-corporate-ladder.
James started as a pilot and ascended to the top (CEO). His evolving perspective mirrors the company’s growth as well. His insights drive home his leadership style, communication, and the process of how it changed with each new role. Careers are not static, and neither are businesses. As they change points of view differ. Understanding how they do change and learning to put that forward makes a good leader.
The Chapter “Communicating Effectively to Solve Business Problems” is something that Kait Dinunzio does well, as her career is in change management. She provides full insight into this career in my interview with her https://www.thecareerguy.ca/episodes/creating-a-legacy-by-service-to-others. She illustrates how storytelling and empathy are tools for positive change. If people understand why change is coming and are told properly with empathy, respect, and passion, outcomes are positive.
Tension is part of change; it is stepping into something different, the unknown. This will create resistance. It is understanding this and how people see it that Kait talks about extensively. At times, we need to be assertive, which some may think can lead to conflict, which is a reason some shy away from this attribute. Effective strategies such as Non-Violent Communication (NVC), which Monique refers to in her book, include listening, problem-solving, and creating consensus rather than telling people what to do.
Conclusion
Leadership is hard work, and it’s a skill. It's undervalued and misunderstood by many. A reason is that we are not educated on the value of leadership and the skills required. The soft skills, such as emotional intelligence and communication, associated with this territory are downplayed in comparison to a person's technical capabilities, which are valued more. Technical attributes are important to the success of any venture. However, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and communication are the roots of a positive venture.
Unfortunately, businesses expect people to be natural at this without any formal training or with little training. This is why I took the time to review this book, “The Survive and Thrive Toolkit for Leaders” by Monique Daigneault. It is a succinct read. Concepts are explained well with many examples (I only did a few to keep the blog short). In addition, leadership is being the best version of ourselves.
Leadership and meeting the challenges of life and career are an ongoing progression for anyone. It is about growing, and it is a worthwhile investment that can pay dividends as one’s career progresses. There are many resources available, such as coaches. Read my blog on this if interested https://www.thecareerguy.ca/blog/coaching, and thanks for reading. I hope this blog helps.