Most businesses don’t fail because of bad ideas.
They fail because of a broken culture.
Meetings go nowhere. Problems keep landing on the same desk. Good employees burn out while the wrong ones stay protected.
That’s the uncomfortable truth Mel Blackwell discusses straight in his book Uncommon Sense: The Fight to Fix Your Workplace Culture in the Wild West of Business. Instead of sugarcoating leadership and workplace challenges, this book reveals why so many companies stay trapped in chaos, burnout, and survival mode — and what strong leaders must do differently to finally build teams that thrive.
Let me break down what stood out most to me.
Workplace Culture Is Not a “Soft Skill” — It’s Survival
One of the strongest messages in this book is simple: culture eats strategy for breakfast.
Blackwell argues that most businesses aren’t failing because of poor strategy. They’re failing because of broken internal culture. He talks about companies stuck in “survival mode” — technically functioning but exhausted, misaligned, and constantly firefighting.
What I appreciated is that he doesn’t romanticize leadership. He says clearly:
- You cannot tolerate culture bandits.
- You cannot build structure around people instead of roles.
- You cannot keep carrying everyone’s problems.
It’s direct. It’s uncomfortable. And it’s necessary.
If you care about building a strong workplace culture and healthy leadership systems, this section alone is worth reading.
Leadership Accountability and the “Pony-Up” Principle
Another concept that hit hard for me was accountability.
Blackwell repeatedly reinforces that leaders must “pony up” first. If the leader avoids hard conversations, tolerates mediocrity, or protects the wrong people — the culture rots from the inside.
He doesn’t preach dominance. He talks about servant leadership — but not the weak version. The strong, clear, disciplined version.
His idea of the inverted triangle (leader serving the team) is practical. Remove the wrong people early. Protect the mission. Serve the good team members well.
This is not motivational fluff. It’s leadership responsibility in action.
Problem-Solving Culture vs. Problem-Worshiping Culture
One of my favorite parts of the book is the distinction between problem-solvers and problem-worshipers.
He shares how he made a rule early in his career: no one could bring him a problem without a proposed solution.
That small shift transformed meetings from complaint sessions into productive conversations.
In today’s corporate world — where meetings often feel like therapy circles — this is refreshing.
If you’re a business owner, manager, or department head struggling with constant escalation and burnout, this section alone could change how you run your team.
Vision and Shared Language: The Missing Link in Business Leadership
Another powerful idea in Uncommon Sense is the concept of vision and shared language.
Blackwell explains that most organizations create a main vision — but forget to create what he calls the “subvision” — the shared belief and internal alignment that actually drives execution.
Without that shared language, departments drift, leadership fractures, and culture collapses.
This part felt especially relevant in today’s hybrid work environment, where clarity and alignment matter more than ever.
Final Thoughts: Is This Book Worth Reading?
If you’re looking for a soft, inspirational leadership read — this isn’t it.
But if you want practical leadership strategies, direct business advice, and a clear roadmap to fixing workplace culture — this is absolutely worth your time.
Uncommon Sense stands out because it blends story, metaphor, and lived business experience without drowning in corporate jargon.
It’s especially useful for:
- Business owners
- Executives
- Startup founders
- Leaders in turnaround situations
- Anyone responsible for team culture
And leaders who want to win need more than common sense.
They need UNCOMMON SENSE. Check out the book on Amazon—> Uncommon Sense by Mel Blackwell
About the Author
Mel Blackwell is a seasoned business leader with over three decades of experience in startups, turnarounds, and billion-dollar companies. He has served in VP and C-suite roles for more than two decades and now coaches leaders on building strong workplace culture, accountability systems, and problem-solving teams. His approach blends real-world experience with direct, no-nonsense leadership principles that help businesses move from survival mode to sustainable growth.
Check out more books that help you become better leaders in Leadership Section.
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