Dare to lead

In her New York Times bestseller, Brené Brown taught us what it means to dare greatly, rise up strong, and brave the wilderness. Now, based on new research with leaders, changemakers, and culture changers, she shows us how to put these ideas into action so we can advance and lead.

Leadership is not about titles, status, or power over people. Leaders are people who take it upon themselves to recognize the potential in people and ideas and develop that potential. This book is for anyone ready to choose courage over comfort, make a difference, and lead.

When we dare to lead, we don’t pretend we have the right answers; we stay curious and ask the right questions. We don’t see power as finite and monopolize it; we know that power becomes unlimited when we share it and align authority and accountability. We don’t avoid difficult conversations and situations; we lean into the vulnerability necessary to do good work. But bold leadership in a culture defined by scarcity, fear, and uncertainty requires building courageous skills, which are uniquely human. The irony is that we choose not to invest in developing the hearts and minds of leaders at the same time that we scramble to figure out what we have to offer that machines can’t do better and faster. What could we do better? Empathy, connection, and the courage to begin. Brené Brown has spent the past two decades researching the emotions that give our lives meaning. Over the past seven years, she’s found that leaders in organizations ranging from small startups and family businesses to nonprofits, civic organizations, and Fortune 50 companies are asking the same questions: How do you cultivate more courageous and bold leaders? And how do you embed the value of courage in your culture? The book "Daring to Lead" answers these questions, offering practical strategies and real-life examples from her new research program on building courage. Brené writes, "One of the most important revelations of my career is that courage is learnable, developable, and measurable. Courage is a set of four skills supported by 28 behaviors. All it takes is a commitment to bold action, having tough conversations, and showing up with our full will. Easy? No. Choosing courage over comfort is not easy. Is it worth it? Always. We want to be courageous in our lives and work. That's why we're here."