Summary: Brené Brown's Dare to Lead

Brown says that “the two most powerful words when we’re in struggle: Me, too.” Empathy is very important in leadership as it requires the leader to take someone else’s perspective and to understand another person’s feelings. Instead of forcing her theories on managing interpersonal relationships at work, Brown argues for vulnerability. She describes it as having tough, truthful conversations without the risk of penalization. Brown writes that a wholehearted leader manages people by leading them from the heart. He wouldn’t be threatened by showing his own imperfections.

She explains that truly daring leaders are prepared to be vulnerable and to listen without interrupting. They have sincere empathy. They connect to the emotions that underlie an experience, not just to the experience itself. These leaders have increased self-awareness and self-love. This is because who we are is how we lead. Brown’s research findings can easily be translated to parenthood, marriages and even government.

cultivate more trust in our relationships. BRAVING stands for Boundary-setting, Reliability, Accountability, Vault-closing, Integrity, Non-judgement and Generosity. This is an easy acronym that a leader can remember. Whenever he is in a difficult situation that requires clarity and communication to solve, he can dig into these behaviors to find the best person who can help get things back on track.

The third lesson is to create trust in all your relationships. Brown advises you to remember the acronym BRAVING. Brené Brown and her team have compiled a list of seven specific behaviors that can help us

Lesson 2 is about focusing on the two core values that make leaders endure any adversity. One factor that is incredibly beneficial to good leadership is being clear about your values. Brown defined values as the human ideals that a leader considers as the most important in his life. Leaders who know what their values have an easier time when they deal with adversity. They let their values guide them and they have something that they can hold on to in the dark and difficult times. Values not only allow the leader to be resilient but also to do what’s right. Brown advises to only focus on two values. When a leader prioritizes two values above all the others, this gives him a specific ideal that he can turn to when hard times come.

. This is precisely what courage is about. It is acting despite the fear, uncertainty, and potential danger. Brown is so adamant that vulnerability is not a sign of weakness, but of strength.

nerability. The word ‘vulnerability’ is defined as “the universal emotion we feel when times are risky and uncertain or we are at the mercy of other people’s actions.” Whenever one leader chooses courage, he also chooses to be vulnerable.

In the book, Brown shared three lessons that can help one leader to be exemplary and courageous.

The first lesson is that you can never be courageous without being vulnerable. Through speaking with other leaders, Brown found out that even the toughest among them admitted that their acts of courage were always accompanied by vul