“Dare to Lead” by Brené Brown, in 5 minutes

Today, we are dissecting “Dare to Lead” by Brené Brown. In the next five minutes, you will learn the actionable skills to shed the armor that is holding you back and lead with a courage that will not only transform your team but could save your career and your well-being.

The central, life-altering truth of this work is this: Vulnerability is not weakness. It is our greatest measure of courage. For too long, we’ve been taught to lead from a place of knowing, of being impenetrable, of having all the answers. This is what Brown calls ‘armored leadership,’ and it is failing us. Daring leadership requires you to show up, be seen, and be brave in the face of uncertainty.

It is built on four skills. These are not personality traits; they are teachable, observable, and measurable practices.

First, you must learn to Rumble with Vulnerability. This isn’t about emotional oversharing. It’s the courage to have the tough conversation, to admit you don’t know the answer, to stay engaged when things get uncomfortable. It is the practice of being human in a system that rewards being a robot. Without this, you cannot innovate, you cannot connect, and you cannot build trust.

Second, you must Live into Your Values. This is a call to radical integrity. Identify your two core values—just two. Not a list of feel-good words. What are the two principles you are willing to stand for, even if it means you might fail? Now, operationalize them. What do those values look like in your actions, in your decisions, in your feedback? Your values are your only guide when you are in the dark.

The third skill is Braving Trust. Trust is the foundation of any successful team, and it is built or broken in the smallest of moments. Brown gives us the acronym BRAVING to make this tangible. Think of it as a checklist for your own behavior. Are you setting Boundaries and respecting others'? Are you Reliable—do you do what you say you’ll do? Do you hold yourself and others Accountable? Do you keep confidences in the Vault? Do you act with Integrity, choosing courage over comfort? Can people be honest with you without Judgment? And are you Generous in your assumptions of others? Trust is not an accident; it is a discipline.

Finally, and this may be the most critical, you must Learn to Rise. Because if you are brave, you will fall. You will fail. Learning to Rise is the process of getting back up. It’s about reckoning with the emotions of failure—the anger, the shame, the disappointment—and getting curious about the stories we tell ourselves when we’re hurt. It’s about rewriting those stories based on truth and learning, so that the fall becomes part of your strength, not your shame.

The choice is stark. You can continue to lead with armor, driven by fear, perfectionism, and the need to be right. Or you can dare to lead. You can foster a culture where people feel safe enough to be brave.

The lessons from “Dare to Lead” are not just business principles; they are a blueprint for a life lived with integrity and a whole heart. Your team, your organization, and your own potential are waiting for that leader to emerge. The time to be brave is now.

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