Leadership books are everywhere, but CARE to Win: The Four Leadership Habits to Build High-Performing Teams by Alex Draper stands out in the crowd. This isn’t just another guide filled with buzzwords and corporate jargon. Instead, it’s a deeply personal, practical, and transformative manual on how to become the kind of leader people respect, trust, and want to follow. Draper takes a refreshing approach to leadership by placing people at the center of success. His philosophy is simple yet profound: when you CARE for your team, they will care back, and together, you’ll achieve remarkable results.
What makes this book so engaging is Draper’s vulnerability. He openly shares his past struggles and leadership missteps, making his lessons relatable and genuine. This isn’t a book written by someone sitting on a pedestal; it’s written by someone who’s walked the path, made mistakes, and learned from them. From the first chapter, Draper invites readers to join him on a journey of reflection, growth, and change.
What Is CARE to Win All About?
At the heart of the book is the CARE Equation: Clarity, Autonomy, Relationships, and Equity. Draper uses these four pillars to build a framework for leadership that prioritizes psychological safety and fosters high performance. Each component of the CARE Equation is carefully dissected:
- Clarity: Draper emphasizes the importance of clear communication and setting expectations. He points out that ambiguity leads to confusion and frustration, while clarity aligns teams and inspires confidence.
- Autonomy: This is about trusting your team and empowering them to take ownership of their work. Draper critiques the pitfalls of micromanagement, reminding leaders that true creativity and innovation thrive in an environment of trust and freedom.
- Relationships: Draper stresses the importance of connecting with team members on a human level. A leader who invests in building strong relationships earns loyalty and trust, which are invaluable for team cohesion and success.
- Equity: Finally, Draper distinguishes between equity and equality, emphasizing the need to allocate resources and attention based on individual needs rather than treating everyone the same. Equity fosters a sense of fairness and inclusion, which is critical for team morale.
Each chapter is packed with real-life examples (playfully called “Alexamples”), research-backed insights, and practical tools. Draper doesn’t just tell you what to do—he shows you how to do it. From understanding biases that hinder leadership to creating a culture of psychological safety, CARE to Win is both a playbook and a mindset shift.
My Thoughts
I found CARE to Win incredibly engaging and thought-provoking. Draper’s conversational tone and use of humor make the book a joy to read, even as it tackles serious topics. His transparency about his own leadership journey makes the content relatable, especially for those of us who’ve faced similar struggles in trying to lead effectively.
The section on autonomy resonated with me the most. Draper’s advice to “trust your team” sounds simple but is surprisingly challenging in practice. His examples of leaders who micromanage, often with the best intentions, highlight how this behavior can stifle creativity and lower morale. Reading this, I reflected on times I’ve experienced—or even contributed to—overmanagement and realized the importance of fostering trust in the workplace.
I also appreciated the chapter on relationships, where Draper emphasizes connecting with people on a human level. In a world increasingly focused on metrics and performance, this reminder felt timely and important. Draper’s belief that people work best when they feel valued and safe to speak up aligns with my own experiences and values.
What sets this book apart is how actionable it is. Draper doesn’t just offer theories; he provides tools, questions, and exercises that readers can apply immediately. His focus on psychological safety—creating an environment where people feel secure enough to be authentic and share ideas—is a standout theme that makes this book relevant for leaders at all levels.
I personally recommend this book to everyone- You can find the book on Amazon.
About the Author
Alex Draper is a seasoned leadership coach and the founder of DX Learning. With over two decades of experience training leaders across the globe, Draper has honed a unique approach to leadership that combines empathy, practicality, and a deep understanding of human behavior. His journey from struggling with his own leadership flaws to building a successful company is inspiring and serves as the foundation for this book.
Draper’s writing reflects his passion for transforming workplaces into environments where people thrive. His CARE Equation isn’t just a framework; it’s a reflection of his core belief that leadership is about serving others. Draper’s blend of humility, humor, and insight makes him not just a teacher but also a relatable guide for anyone on their own leadership journey.
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