Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts

By Brené Brown

Genre: Non Fiction

Format: Paperback

Brené Brown taught us what it means to dare greatly, rise strong, and brave the wilderness. Now, based on new research conducted with leaders, change makers, and culture shifters, she shows us how to put those ideas into practice to step up and lead.

Leadership is not about titles, status, and power over people. Leaders are those who hold themselves accountable for recognizing the potential in people and ideas, and developing that potential. This book is for everyone ready to choose courage over comfort, make a difference, and lead.

When we dare to lead, we don't pretend to have the right answers; we stay curious and ask the right questions. We don't see power as finite and hoard it; we understand that power becomes infinite when shared and aligned with authority and accountability. We don't avoid difficult conversations; we lean into the vulnerability necessary for good work.

Daring leadership in a culture defined by scarcity, fear, and uncertainty requires building courage skills, which are uniquely human. Ironically, we choose not to invest in developing the hearts and minds of leaders while scrambling to figure out what we can offer that machines can't do better and faster. What can we do better? Empathy, connection, and courage to start.

Brené Brown spent the past two decades researching the emotions that give meaning to our lives. Over the past seven years, she found that leaders in various organizations, from small entrepreneurial start-ups to Fortune 50 companies, are asking the same questions: How do you cultivate braver, more daring leaders? And how do you embed the value of courage in your culture?

Dare to Lead answers these questions and provides actionable strategies and real examples from her new research-based, courage-building program. Brené writes, “One of the most important findings of my career is that courage can be taught, developed, and measured. Courage is a collection of four skill sets supported by twenty-eight behaviors. All it requires is a commitment to doing bold work, having tough conversations, and showing up with our whole hearts. Easy? No. Choosing courage over comfort is not easy. Worth it? Always. We want to be brave with our lives and work. It's why we're here.”