Dr. Julie Donley, Coach, Author, Speaker
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Leadership Books by Dr. Julie Donley

Practical wisdom for leaders who want to lead better, grow faster, and put people first.

Leading at the Speed of People

A people-centered approach to building trust, reducing friction, and leading with confidence

After 25+ years leading in high-stakes environments, Dr. Julie distilled everything she’s learned into one core truth: leadership is a people game. This book introduces the CARE Leadership Model™ (practical framework built on Communication, Appreciation, Respect, and Empathy) that transforms how leaders connect with their teams, handle conflict, and create cultures where people actually want to work.

This book is for you if you’re:

  • A mid-to-senior level leader who wants to build trust and reduce team friction
  • Recently promoted and navigating the shift from doing the work to leading the people
  • An HR or L&D professional looking for a framework to develop your organization’s leaders
  • A healthcare leader managing high-stress teams through change and burnout

*Global Book Award Finalist

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What readers are saying

This wonderfully written book offers a fresh and effective approach to leadership in today’s fast-paced world. Dr. Donley shares compelling stories from her own experiences and those of her coaching clients—scenarios many of us can relate to. She presents a more effective way to lead, inspiring us to elevate our leadership skills while providing valuable tools and strategies that can be implemented immediately. Dr. Donley clarifies what good leadership looks like, emphasizing the importance of creating a positive work environment that fosters success. The book guides readers in reducing friction—removing obstacles that prevent people from bringing their best selves to work. It encourages us to connect with those we lead through deep listening, empathy, and gracefully giving and receiving feedback. By doing so, we can achieve increased engagement, productivity, and retention. This inspiring and powerful leadership playbook equips new leaders with essential skills and tools for effectiveness. Even those who have been in management roles for some time will find new insights and perspectives, enabling them to become the leaders everyone wants to follow.
Trina Pitt
I bought this book as a gift for a friend who leads a team of people and has a lot of daily responsibilities that I can’t relate to as an independent contractor. But I ended up keeping it for myself and buying her another one! I really enjoyed reading this. I found that the lessons applied to my one-person business as much as they would to a larger corporation. After all, I still have to interact with vendors and clients, I volunteer with non-profit boards, and I am an active member of my community. All of these structures can resemble businesses at times. And Dr. Donley’s concepts have already helped me relate to people more compassionately and firmly. I particularly appreciated the chapter on leading ourselves as a precursor to great leadership—as I’ve found that to be true in my work and in my life. This book made me think more deeply about how I’m perceived by others, and how that’s a reflection of my own integrity. It translated into how my company and products are received. I also liked the C.A.R.E. model (Communication, Appreciation, Respect, and Empathy). Those reflections and exercises also translate well across all business and personal realms. (And I’ve always loved acronyms—they’re easier to hold onto long after I put the book down!).
Maggie Parr
In the words of the author: "this book teaches two major activities for leaders to focus their attention and efforts while better understanding people and how they operate: reducing friction and connecting. Reducing friction involves lessening or eliminating stressors where possible and removing obstacles so people can perform at their best." She esse tially is allowing us to really take a step back and examine our leadership style and how it is impacting not just those around us, but also ourselves. What i liked a lot was that she took a lot of time examining the trends of todays workforce, such as stress, burnouts, and even trauma. She invites us to reconsider the pace at which we lead and if we are doing ourselves an injustice in our quest for better and faster productivity. This was a really great book on leadership, one of the best I have read in a long time.
J. Armstrong
As a leader in the business arena, it can sometimes start to feel like you are not so much managing people and their real-world problems and concerns as moving assets around. Once you start to take on that attitude, though, you are fighting a losing battle if you want to get your employees to respect you and to really listen to you. In this book, you will learn how to get away from that mindset and to start seeing your workers as individuals again. You will also understand how opening up lines of communication and actively listening can work to your advantage. The lessons that are supplied throughout this handy guide should improve your company’s culture in every conceivable way. It should also get you to a point where you’ll enjoy and relish spending time more with every member of your team.
Steven Finkelstein
This is a wonderful book that will help you take the necessary steps to create a happier and well-functioning work environment. This book is made for leaders and is very easy to follow so you can pull the techniques mentioned in the book to apply to real life right away. The author's knowledge on this subject is definitely worth recognition. I can't wait to see how much this book helps in the upcoming year.
Kelsey McQuitty

Does Change Have to Be So Hard?

Eight mindset strategies to overcome self-sabotage and take control of your life

Change is inevitable but the way we resist it doesn’t have to be. In this book, Dr. Julie explores the internal barriers, the fears, habits, and self-sabotaging patterns that keep us stuck even when we know we need to move forward. Through eight practical mindset strategies, she gives readers a roadmap for navigating personal and professional change with less struggle and more self-awareness.

This book is for you if you’re:

  • Going through a major life / career transition and feeling stuck
  • A leader managing organizational change who wants to understand the human side of resistance
  • Someone who knows what you need to do but can’t seem to get out of your own way
  • A coach, therapist, or HR professional who supports others through change

Global Book Award, Silver

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Book Excellence Review:

"Written in a warm, conversational tone, Does Change Have to Be So Hard blends psychological insight with everyday examples that make its ideas easy to grasp."

In Does Change Have to Be So Hard, Dr. Julie Donley tackles one of life’s most universal struggles: our resistance to change. But, rather than treat change as something to fear, Donley presents it as a normal part of life that we can learn to handle with greater confidence, ease and control. Donley explains that people are already far more comfortable with change than they may realize. Everyday routines like getting out of bed, going to work, having conversations, and making choices are all in fact, small acts of change. The real struggle then, is when change becomes intentional and deliberate, when we try to shift our habits, identity, or direction.

To help readers understand this resistance, Donley introduces the memorable H.A.R.D. framework: Habits, Attachments, Resistance, and Discouragement. Where the book truly stands out is how Donley frames these reactions. Instead of looking at H.A.R.D. as personal weaknesses, Donley describes them as natural tendencies of the mind, which is wired to seek stability and conserve energy. Readiness, then, isn’t about willpower, but a mindset that can be developed over time. The heart of the book lies in eight practical strategies designed to make change feel more approachable.

Donley consistently highlights the importance of personal responsibility, self-leadership, and mindset, showing readers that change is not something to fear but a skill that can be developed. In a world that often feels uncertain and unpredictable, the book serves as a reassuring guidepost.

What readers are saying

This book is worth reading if you're tired of starting changes that don't stick. Dr. Donley cuts through the noise with strong guidance that you can't change in a vacuum and despite endless life hacks and shortcuts, we're worse than ever at making real changes stick. Her fourth strategy, creating an environment to support change, really demonstrates this point. She breaks it down in ways that highlight that the people, places, and things around you either help or hurt your progress. If you're trying to eat healthier but your kitchen is full of junk food and your friends always want to hit fast food joints, you're fighting an uphill battle. The book doesn't sugarcoat the hard truth that some people in your life might resist your changes. Donley gives practical advice on setting boundaries and finding new communities that align with your goals. She's honest about how family members or long-time friends might not be your best cheerleaders when you're trying to grow. What makes this different from other change books is the focus on preparation over willpower. Instead of just telling you to "stay motivated," she shows you how to stack the deck in your favor. Remove temptations, find accountability partners, join groups where your new habits are normal. The writing is straightforward without being preachy. Donley draws from her nursing and coaching background to explain why our minds resist change, but she keeps it simple. The eight strategies work together, but you can start anywhere that makes sense for your situation. The book's acronym is a good reminder that this book is a guide I can go back to when things get hard!
Adena Johnston
Navigating big transitions often feels overwhelming, but Does Change Have to Be So Hard: Eight Mindset Strategies to Overcome Self-Sabotage and Take Control of Your Life by Julie Donley offers a practical and supportive roadmap for anyone ready to move forward. Drawing on personal experience and years of coaching, Donley unpacks why change tends to feel so uncomfortable, stressing that our thinking, not circumstance alone, creates many of the obstacles we face. The heart of the book is a series of eight strategies designed to help readers shift their perspective, recognize self-sabotage, manage emotions, build motivation, and put real supports in place for success. With clear explanations and a compassionate tone, Donley’s advice feels doable and relevant whether you’re tackling habits, relationships, career, or health. Instead of pushing for quick fixes, she guides readers to work with their own psychology so change becomes both realistic and empowering. The book’s gentle encouragement helps turn daunting goals into steps that truly lead to lasting growth.
Mariuca Asavoaie
Why do most of us find it so difficult to change? The author suggests several mental strategies to overcome this, among which we find habits, attachments, resistance, and discouragement as the main internal barriers that prevent us from achieving our goals. As a psychiatric nurse, she provides clear guidance on how our minds can hinder change and proposes effective strategies to reverse this tendency. These tactics include identifying and managing self-criticism, redefining temporal perception, and finding appropriate motivation to maintain momentum. The lessons are designed to help you harmonize your thoughts with your actions, making change less overwhelming and more sustainable.
Carlos Arguello
We are living in a time of unprecedented change and opportunity--both can seem scary without an experienced guide. "Does Change have to be so HARD?" is a compass, guidebook, and roadmap for creating positive change in our lives. Author and coach, Julie Donley challenges the assumption that change has to be difficult by demystifying the change process. The acronym H.A.R.D (habits, attachments, resistance, and discouragement) represents the obstacles in the way of the change we desire. Ms. Donley equips the reader for change with practical strategies and thought provoking insights. Ms. Donley's first book, "A Journey Called You" helped me through a challenging life transition. Her new book is just what I needed to inspire me along the next stage of my journey. Change really can be is easy--especially when it is harder not to change.
Laura Wisniewski
Now happy as a businesswoman, nurse, life coach, wife and mother, Julie Donley draws on her own life's experiences and struggles- the hardships, pitfalls, setbacks, failures, and utimate successes- to produce a well-written, instructive, easy-to-read manual on the difficult subject of personal change. This book will provide you with the insight and tools you will need as you confront life's challenges as well as your own. If you have wanted to change or have tried and failed, this may finally be the book to guide you to success.
Dr. Harold M. Weiner

The Journey Called YOU

A roadmap to self-Discovery and acceptance

Before you can lead others well, you have to understand yourself. The Journey Called YOU is Dr. Julie’s most personal book; a guide to self-discovery that helps readers uncover who they really are beneath the roles, expectations, and stories they’ve been carrying. It’s part reflection, part practical framework, and entirely about giving yourself permission to grow.

This book is for you if you’re:

  • At a crossroads personally or professionally and searching for clarity
  • A leader who wants to develop deeper self-awareness as a foundation for growth
  • Someone ready to stop living on autopilot and start making intentional choices
  • A coach or mentor looking for a resource to recommend to clients on their personal growth journey

Global Book Award, Bronze Winner

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What readers are saying

This book proved to be well worth the money. Rather than the usual "self esteem" spin, it is an honest, insightful work that inspired me to re-read it again and again, learning a bit more each time. The end of chapter questions are helpful and thought provoking. I found it, overall, to be a very useful tool in breaking some attrocious habits I've carried most of my adult life and taking charge of my life's direction.
Gordon Hunter
Well known author Maya Angelou once said, "when you know better you do better." After reading The Journey Called You, I am certainly doing alot of things much better. If you're searching for the key to living with more passion and finally defining meaningful career & personal goals then this is the book for you. Most self-help books make unrealistic promises. However, The Journey Called You delivers by offering practical advise that can be implemented immediately. Highly recommended for those serious about taking their self awareness to the next level.
M. Noel
Eloquently written and easy-to-read, this book is designed to help you understand and accept yourself so you can make decisions every day that move you closer to the happy and fulfilled life you desire. You will learn how to use your personal power to free yourself to be you. After all, the author points out, you are the most important person in your life! Without you, what do you have?
T. Sue Collier
This wonderful indepth book gives excellent coaching tips that allows you to put the information to work immediately. The writing style is clear and concise with Julie's real life story weaved throughout the text. Journaling is also part of the process and this is used throughout the book. The insight that this book brought to the table for me is so valuable that it has helped me recreate myself and enhanced my relationships with everyone around me.
Cynthia Diccianni
A very powerful book. Written clearly with exercises to assist in your personal growth. The author shares many tips and examples that one can relate to. Well worth the time to read as it will enhance your life.
L. Weiner

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