Kristen Lisanti

Founder, Radiant Change

“Kris Jennings weaves together vivid storytelling with concrete tools to show us how to work with (not against) fear. If you’re leading change of
any kind, you’ll want to read this book.”

Sarah Strehl

Chief Human Resources Office, ECMC Group

“Refreshingly honest and practical, leaders will frequently reference this book for the memorable stories and the proven techniques. By the end, it feels like you’ve already got a better idea of what’s coming and more confidence to lead through it.”

Jill Claggett

30-year HR professional

“Inspired by Fear will feel like you are reading your own thoughts and feelings about change management. Kris’ book will provide you with the
tools and insight to approach change not only in your work life but your personal life too!”

Coming this October!

The clarity to know where to start when leading feels volatile and uncertain

Inspired by Fear helps you take that first step…and the next..and the next…as you lead your team and organization during transformational change. If you struggle to sort through the big emotions so common during change, this book will provide clarity out of complexity. You'll feel more confident to know where to focus your efforts to maximize your impact.

Each chapter of this book addresses a common fear faced by change leaders during high-stakes, high-pressure situations. Through the eyes of fictional leader Cera Day and the relatable stories she experiences during a change, you will learn how to:

✅ Notice fear in yourself and others so that it doesn’t negatively impact your actions;

✅ Apply proven methods for inspiring, encouraging, developing and influencing people; and

✅ Recognize what good change leadership looks and feels like.

Changing your leadership feels courageously doable when you approach it one small shift at a time.

Chrystal Checketts

Leadership consultant and executive coach

“Inspired by Fear belongs in the same collection as The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and other great Leadership Fables. It’s easy to read, engaging, and powerful. Leaders and change managers alike will reap the benefits of this compelling and practical guide. It is a must-read. From the boardroom to
1:1 feedback moments, this book contains perspectives and tools leaders across sectors can equip themselves with to become more empathetic leaders, improve emotional intelligence, and lead teams successfully through change.”

Heather Whelpley

Keynote speaker and award-winning author of
An Overachiever’s Guide to Breaking the Rules and Grounded Wildness

“Inspired by Fear provides leaders with a guidebook to address one of the most overlooked aspects of leading change – emotions. So often, we hear about the “practical” and the “emotional” as separate entities. Kris Jennings shows us they are one and the same. She provides leaders with concrete actions to acknowledge the fear, anxiety, anger, and wide variety of emotions that arise during change and inspires people to act with their emotions. Highly recommend it to anyone leading change, big or small!”

Gus Broman

Change consultant, adjunct professor and author of Bridge to Teen

“Going through change can be difficult. Jennings reminds us of the importance of human connection and being intentional in interactions. Inspired by Fear quickly reveals itself to be a profound exploration of how we can enrich our lives by focusing on the people around us and helping them navigate change. Every change practitioner should read this annually to remind themself of the power you can unleash in human potential.”

Why I wrote this book

I’m world-class at fear. I don’t mean that I’ve conquered it. I mean that I’ve lived in fear virtually all my adult life.

There’s a word for this: hypervigilance. It goes beyond worry and apprehension. It’s also more pervasive than generalized anxiety. My mind and body have lived in perpetual threat detection mode. Even when I think I’m calm, recent neurofeedback tests on my brain show that I’m not.

Fear is always with me.

This disordered fear response is part of living with chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). After years of thinking my high levels of stress and agitation were simply because I lived a high-performing life, I was officially diagnosed with chronic PTSD in late 2020.

That diagnosis changed my life because it changed how I think and feel about fear.

I used PTSD-specific healing modalities to create new neuropathways. I created new behaviors to become more aware of fear’s presence. I began practicing mindfulness techniques to have greater tolerance to sit with it.

I also noticed how fear permeates organizations during transformational change. I considered whether this was the best type of work for me. But the more healing I did, the more convinced I became this was EXACTLY what I needed to be doing.

Courage isn't the absence of fear but deciding to act despite its presence. My change work took on a greater purpose by teaching others what I've learned about the connection between fear and action. Leaders who learn this can have a positive ripple effect on their teams.

This is why I wrote Inspired by Fear: Becoming a Courageous Change Leader.