Dare to Lead

Embrace Vulnerability

Vulnerability as Courage: Brown challenges the conventional view of vulnerability as weakness, reframing it as the foundation of courage. Daring leaders embrace vulnerability by showing up authentically, even when there's a risk of failure or criticism. This involves sharing ideas, asking tough questions, and giving and receiving feedback with openness. By being vulnerable, leaders foster trust and create a safe environment where team members feel comfortable taking risks and innovating.

Operationalize Values

Living into Your Values: Identifying and operationalizing your core values is crucial for authentic leadership. It's not enough to simply list values; daring leaders must translate them into behaviors. This involves being clear about what each value looks like in action and holding yourself and others accountable for living up to those standards. When leaders align their actions with their values, they build trust and inspire others to do the same.

Build Trust with BRAVING

BRAVING Trust: Brown introduces the BRAVING framework as a model for building trust. BRAVING stands for Boundaries, Reliability, Accountability, Vault, Integrity, Non-judgment, and Generosity. Each element is essential for creating and maintaining trusting relationships. Leaders who embody these qualities cultivate a culture of psychological safety where team members feel safe to be vulnerable, take risks, and share ideas.

Rumble with Difficulties

Rumbling with Vulnerability: "Rumbling" refers to engaging in difficult conversations with courage and empathy. Daring leaders don't shy away from tough topics; instead, they approach them with curiosity and a willingness to listen. This involves staying grounded in your values, seeking to understand different perspectives, and being open to changing your own views. Effective rumbling fosters clarity, strengthens relationships, and drives positive change.

Rise from Setbacks

Learning to Rise: Brown’s "Rising Strong" process is about learning from setbacks and failures. It involves recognizing the emotions associated with failure, getting curious about the stories we tell ourselves about what happened, and rewriting those stories to be more compassionate and empowering. Daring leaders use failures as opportunities for growth and development, both for themselves and their teams.

Foster Empathy and Connection

Leading with Empathy and Connection: Connection and empathy are vital for daring leadership. Leaders need to connect with team members on a human level, understand their perspectives, and show genuine care and concern. Empathy involves recognizing and validating others' emotions, even when you don't agree with their viewpoints. By fostering connection and empathy, leaders create a sense of belonging and inspire greater collaboration and commitment.

Give and Receive Feedback

Daring to Give and Receive Feedback: Constructive feedback is essential for growth and improvement, but it can be difficult to give and receive. Daring leaders approach feedback with honesty, clarity, and a genuine desire to help others develop. When giving feedback, it's important to focus on specific behaviors and their impact, rather than making personal judgments. When receiving feedback, it's important to listen openly, ask clarifying questions, and resist the urge to become defensive.

Reject Perfectionism

Challenging the Myth of Perfectionism: Perfectionism is a self-defeating mindset that prevents people from taking risks and embracing vulnerability. Daring leaders challenge the myth of perfectionism by promoting a culture of self-compassion and acceptance. This involves recognizing that mistakes are inevitable, learning from them, and moving forward with resilience. By rejecting perfectionism, leaders create space for innovation and creativity.