About My Book

Collaborate Better is your field guide to transforming misaligned teams into high-performing units that actually deliver. Through actionable frameworks and real-world stories, it shows how to break silos, build trust, and lead with purpose.

My name is Mark S. Carroll, and I am the author of Collaborate Better: From Silos to Synergy – How to Build Unstoppable Teams. I wrote this book to empower the overlooked changemakers—managers, team leads, and frustrated employees—who see what’s broken and want to fix it but don’t know where to begin. I’ve seen how bad collaboration breaks good people, and I know better ways of working can heal teams, reignite careers, and restore meaning to work. High-performing teams aren’t born—they’re built. If you’re ready to build one then you deserve the tools to succeed.

This book was written to help you turn confusion into clarity—and meetings into meaningful momentum. It’s for those ready to lead differently: with empathy, transparency, and purpose. I don’t just share insights—I offer a deep appreciation for the transformative power of collaborative leadership. You’ll learn how to turn workplace tension into breakthrough conversations that build trust and unlock progress. Along the way, you’ll uncover and address the subtle bottlenecks caused by silos and the quiet damage of information hoarding.

In this book, you’ll learn about:

• True Collaboration Isn’t Accidental—It’s Designed Intentionally
  • High-performing teams are built through thoughtful design—not charisma, luck, or culture decks. You teach readers how to map their team’s purpose, priorities, and audience fit using Lean Canvases, collaboration Personas, and Intake Funnels to replace ambiguity with aligned intent.
  • Teams learn to align around shared purpose with SOAR Analysis, focusing on Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results—so collaboration becomes scalable and strategy-driven.
• Conflict Isn’t the Enemy—It’s a Compass
  • Misalignment and tension aren’t signs to retreat—they’re early indicators of where growth and clarity are needed. You equip teams to reframe conflict as a source of insight using tools like the Five Whys and Ishikawa (Fishbone) Diagrams to trace dysfunction to its root cause.
  • Layered on top are improv-based exercises that model active listening, status balancing, and creative tension—all in service of turning unspoken friction into shared breakthroughs.
• Silos Are a Symptom—Systems Thinking Builds Flow
  • Organizational gridlock often hides behind polite dysfunction—siloed departments, slow decisions, unclear ownership. You guide readers through systemic repair using the Collapse and Rebuild Framework, a 4R model (Replace, Restructure, Redevelop, Rebrand) that shows teams how to address deep-rooted fragmentation.

You will love this book if you’re a mid-level manager constantly putting out fires and craving clarity, a founder-turned-executive working to scale trust and alignment without burning out your team, or a rising team player who sees the problems but needs the tools to lead change from within—Collaborate Better was written for you.

This book meets you in the messy middle: overwhelmed, out of sync, yet ready to move forward. With proven frameworks and practical tools, it helps you cut through the noise, fix what’s not working, and transform dysfunction into momentum.

Launch Ticket Perks & Exclusive Packages

Everyone who purchases during my presale will receive:

• A physical copy (paperback) or digital copy (ebook) when I publish in early 2026.
• The opportunity to have your name featured in the Acknowledgements section of my book (“with Special Thanks to”). *Available in select packages only.
• You will be invited to join my Author Community and get behind-the-scenes sneak peeks into the publishing process.
• You will have the opportunity to be involved in finalizing my cover and title.
• Early access to the Introduction and select excerpts near the final draft.
• And more!

More About My Publishing Journey

My publisher (Manuscripts) gave me a publishing team to help me produce and launch my book. I am working with:

• A revisions editor, copy editor, and proofreader this summer to further hone my book (when you buy a copy during my presale, you’ll get early excerpts and access to earlier versions of my manuscript!)
• A marketing specialist to coach and support me in marketing efforts, and help me reach new audiences
• A cover artist and layout editor who will be designing my book. (The mockups you see currently are a placeholder!)

I am also looking at releasing my book as a hardcover and audiobook edition based on the number of copies sold during the presale:

• If I pre-sell at least 500 books during my presale, I will also publish an audiobook edition.
• If I pre-sell at least 1000 books during my presale, I will publish a hardcover edition and an audiobook.

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, X, LinkedIn, Substack, and Instagram with your friends, family and network. Please use #CollaborateBetter 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,

Mark

About The Author

Mark S. Carroll is an agile strategist, collaboration coach, and organizational change expert who has spent over two decades helping teams—from scrappy startups to sprawling federal agencies—break down silos, align around purpose, and deliver meaningful results. As the founder of Mark-Carroll.com, LLC and the voice behind the Collaborate with Mark (Substack) platform, he brings a refreshingly candid, systems-savvy, and people-first perspective to the messy realities of teamwork.

Mark’s unconventional background blends deep experience in product development, coaching leadership teams, and teaching improv comedy as a secret weapon for psychological safety and creative thinking. He’s guided Fortune 500/100 companies, tech disruptors, and mission-driven public institutions through the hard work of building trust, navigating conflict, and turning fragmented groups into high-functioning teams.

Readers trust Mark because he doesn’t sell platitudes—he delivers frameworks rooted in lived experience. Whether you’re a manager on the brink of burnout, a frustrated team player trying to make a difference, or a visionary leader craving real alignment, Mark offers practical wisdom, proven tools, and a deeply human lens to help you collaborate better. 

Beyond the boardroom, Mark channels his creative energy as a front man for a David Bowie tribute band, fuels psychological safety through improv comedy, finds clarity in meditation, and reconnects with wonder while hiking the majestic trails of America’s national parks.

For more information, you can connect with Mark at Mark-Carroll.com, LinkedIn, Substack, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, BlueSky, and X. 

📚 Frequently Asked Questions