Stay Calm. Be Heard.
Stories About The Book
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Podcasts
“This is the practical guide every professional didn’t know they needed! Karen Thrall brings humor, heart, and hard-won wisdom to the universal challenge of keeping your cool under pressure. With insight and empathy, she helps readers turn frustration into focus and emotion into influence—proving that composure, not control, is the real superpower at work."
Dr. Marshall Goldsmith
Thinkers50 #1 Executive Coach and New York Times bestselling author of The Earned Life, Triggers, and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.
About the Book
When tensions rise at work, how you respond can either escalate the problem or resolve it. Everyone gets annoyed for one reason or another: the meeting that goes sideways, the rude client, or the colleague who doesn’t answer your emails.
Some address conflict right away. Others wait to avoid saying something they’ll regret. Which is the best approach?
Don’t Lose Your Sh*t at Work is for anyone who’s ever thought, “Why did I have to say it that way?” or “Why didn’t I speak up sooner?”
The goal goes beyond better communication. Instead of reacting out of frustration or going quiet to avoid conflict altogether, there’s a third option. What if, every time things get heated, you respond clearly and calmly, handling the situation with respect and kindness? This book helps you do that.
Don't Lose Your Sh*t at Work is here to help you manage those tricky situations and come out on top.
Written by executive coach Karen Thrall and psychiatrist Dr. Joseph Shrand, this book is a blend of real stories and science to show you how your mind can become your most powerful tool.
You’ll discover how to:
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Stay calm when things heat up.
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Know when to address conflict and when to give it space.
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Manage your emotions before they take control.
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Choose the energy you bring into every conversation.
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Shift from reacting to reflecting before you speak.
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Speak up because your voice deserves to be heard.
This isn't about stuffing down your feelings or faking a smile. It's about understanding anger—a natural emotion with many faces—and using it as a force for thoughtful conversations, mutual respect, and value-based resolution.
You'll also discover why some people blow up while others go silent, how to recognize when your own buttons get pushed, and what to do when heated conversations escalate. Don't Lose Your Shit at Work is the book you'll wish everyone in your office would read.
Leave a message. I'd love to hear from you.
About the Authors
Karen Thrall - Executive Business Coach
and Advisor
Karen Thrall is an executive coach and business consultant who partners with senior leaders across the U.S. and Canada. With more than two decades of experience, she helps companies grow without losing their soul. Over the years, Karen has guided organizations through nearly every kind of workplace challenge, turning obstacles into lasting success. She equips leaders to achieve results while helping teams renew their energy and sense of purpose. What began as a workshop in 2004 evolved into her debut book. She sees writing as a natural extension of her coaching and a way to continue championing the professional community she cares for.
Dr. Jospeh Strand MD - Chief Medical Officer of Riverside Community Care
Dr. Joseph Shrand is a psychiatrist with more than thirty years of clinical and academic experience. He serves as Chief Medical Officer of Riverside Community Care, Medical Director of multiple treatment programs in Massachusetts, and Lecturer of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Shrand is triple board certified by the American Board of Adult, Child, and Adolescent Psychiatry and Neurology and the American Board of Addiction Medicine. He was recently awarded the designation of Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the organization's highest honor, for his contributions to the field of mental health across the world. Dr. Joe is the founder of Drug Story Theater, Inc., and the author of five books, including Unleashing the Power of Respect, awarded the 2023 Independent Press Best Group Psychology Book of the Year. His work on The I-M Approach continues to influence psychiatry and strengthen communities worldwide. And he is Joe from the original cast of Zoom, the WGBH Emmy Award-winning television show that revolutionized children’s television way, way back in 1972!
Six Steps Every Workplace Can Take to Improve Emotional Intelligence
Karen Thrall delivers practical strategies for applying emotional intelligence in the workplace. With engaging insights, she shows leaders how to defuse tension, communicate with transparency, and build resilience during times of pressure and change. Karen empowers teams to embrace challenges, value diverse perspectives, and contribute with confidence through purposeful dialogue.
What to Expect
Let’s talk about that natural emotion with many faces: anger
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The “Now or Later” philosophy: Learn when to address conflict immediately and when to wait.
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Something needs to change: Anger is a message that something needs to change; whether it be in yourself or your environment.
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From frustration to calm: Redirecting your thoughts from reflexive to reflective changes how you approach conflict.
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Energy comes first: Anger is an energy that others pick up before you even say a word.
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Remain composed: Defusing your frustration before speaking makes you more influential.
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Speak up: Your thoughts matter. Your voice is worth hearing.