About the Book

Hi, my name is Dani Protivinsky, and I am the author of Before You Lead Them, a book about leadership and sustainable influence. I was inspired to write this book because I’ve walked the path that many leaders travel in silence through uncertainty, pressure, and constant responsibility and I wanted to share practical lessons that actually work in real life.

What I found along the way is that one of the biggest gaps in leadership development is not a lack of information, but a lack of consistency. Many leadership books focus on strategies, traits, or frameworks, but far fewer address the day-to-day reality of how leaders actually show up, especially when things are difficult, unclear, or demanding.

The real challenge is not knowing what good leadership looks like, and sustaining it over time.

This book was written to address that problem. It is not a typical leadership development book filled with abstract theories or one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, it focuses on the internal work of leadership—how you show up, how you build self-awareness, and how you create consistency in your actions, decisions, and interactions with others. Because ultimately, leadership is less about what you say in moments of clarity and more about how you behave in moments of pressure.

Before You Lead Them is grounded in the idea that sustainable influence starts from within. When leaders develop consistency in how they think, respond, and lead, they create trust, stability, and impact that lasts beyond any single moment or decision.

How Does My Book Help?

My hope for this book is that it becomes a practical companion for anyone who wants to lead with intention, influence without relying on authority, and sustain their impact over the long term. My perspective is unique because I focus not on authority or titles, but on the foundation most leadership books overlook: self-leadership; the daily practice of discipline, clarity, and consistency that builds credibility long before authority is given.

This book includes stories and insights from my own leadership journey, conversations with leaders across industries, and research-backed frameworks that translate leadership from theory into daily practice.

At its core, Before You Lead Them is structured around the idea that sustainable leadership starts internally and is built through consistent, intentional action over time. The early chapters focus on that foundation; leading yourself before leading others, developing mindset mastery, and understanding how your identity shapes your behavior. From there, the book moves into the discipline required to sustain leadership, emphasizing habits over motivation and the idea that consistency,  not intensity, is what creates long-term impact.

A central theme throughout the book is capacity. Chapters on energy management and values-based leadership explore how leaders must actively manage their internal resources and stay grounded in their principles, even when it is difficult or costly. The book also addresses the realities of decision-making and pressure, focusing on how to be decisive rather than reactive when the stakes are high.

As the book progresses, it expands outward into relational leadership, how to grow intentionally, build meaningful relationships, and lead through influence rather than authority alone. It does not avoid the harder aspects of leadership either, including navigating conflict as an unavoidable and defining leadership test.

The conclusion brings these ideas together by framing leadership as a living system, one that requires ongoing awareness, adjustment, and growth. Ultimately, the book is designed to help leaders move beyond knowing what to do and instead develop the consistency needed to actually live it out.

Who Is My Book For?

Before You Lead Them is a book written for emerging leaders, current managers, and experienced leaders who are exploring self-leadership, sustainable influence, and practical leadership habits for the first time or in a deeper way. You will enjoy this book if you are preparing for your first leadership role, currently managing teams, or looking to refine how you show up as a seasoned leader.

The book is written in three parts, each building on the foundation of self-leadership before expanding into influence and long-term impact.

Part I — Leading Yourself First

Introduction + Chapters 1–3: This section lays the foundation for sustainable leadership by focusing on mindset, clarity, and personal discipline. Readers learn how to identify internal barriers, build mental resilience, and create the habits that support consistent leadership behavior.

Stories include:

• A moment of internal doubt that reshaped how I approached uncertainty
• A tactical framework for shifting from emotional reaction to intentional response

Part II — Leading Through Influence

Chapters 4–7: This section explores how influence is built long before authority is given. Readers learn how to communicate with clarity, build trust, and lead without relying on positional power.

Stories include:

• A real-world example of leading a team through ambiguity without having all the answers
• A practical model for giving and receiving feedback without defensiveness

Part III — Leading for the Long Term

Chapters 8–10: This section focuses on sustaining leadership over time, through systems, values-based decision-making, and integrity. Readers learn how to create structures that support long-term success and how to stay grounded when pressure rises.

Stories include:

• A decision-making framework that aligns actions with values
• A system for maintaining clarity and energy during high-pressure seasons
  

What’s Included With Your Pre-Order:

About The Author

Dani Protivinsky (DrPH, MPH, MBA) is a leader, mentor, and strategist with years of experience guiding individuals and teams through the challenges of modern leadership. She is passionate about the belief that leadership is earned through daily choices rather than titles, and has worked alongside emerging, current, and seasoned leaders to help them cultivate the self-discipline, clarity, and resilience needed to influence with integrity.

Drawing from personal experience, research, and insights from leaders across industries, Dani has developed practical frameworks, exercises, and mindset shifts that empower others to lead with intention. Her work, including Before You Lead Them: A Leadership Playbook for Sustainable Influence, reflects her core belief that lasting leadership begins with mastering oneself; building habits, systems, and decision-making processes that hold steady under pressure.

Whether preparing for a first leadership role or refining a decades-long career, Dani equips others with actionable tools to lead beyond authority, respond with purpose, and create influence that endures. She believes leadership is a practice, not a promotion, and is committed to helping others navigate its complexity with courage and clarity.

Outside of her professional work, Dani is a wife and a mom who values time spent with family and friends. She is deeply committed to lifelong learning, personal growth, and continually evolving both as a leader and as a person – principles that shape not only her work, but the way she lives each day.

Other Ways to Support Me: 

Some people just can’t contribute, but that doesn’t mean they can’t help!

• Please share my presale campaign on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn with your friends, family and network. Please use #BeforeYouLeadThem and tag me so we can help amplify your efforts.
• Please recommend my book to five (5) friends, family members, or co-workers who you think would enjoy it via text or direct message on social media.

Thank you so much for all of your love and support!

Thanks again,

Dani Protivinsky