Dare to Lead Book Insights: Building a Courageous Leadership Style

Building a courageous leadership style: insights from “Dare to Lead”

Hey there, my fellow self-developers! Leadership, as you probably know, isn’t just about titles and job positions. It’s about having the strength to take on challenges, guide a team, and, most importantly, understanding the deeper aspects of human connection. That’s why today, we’re diving into a game-changing book: Dare to Lead by Brené Brown.

If you’re like me, you’ve come across buzzwords like “courageous leadership” and “vulnerability” for years now, but what does that really mean? Well, this book gives us a tangible, actionable blueprint on how to level up our leadership game by embracing vulnerability and leading with heart—even in today’s competitive landscape. If you want to not only lead people but transform them into a goal-smashing team fueled by courage, this article is for you! Now, let’s unpack these ideas by giving you a step-by-step guide.

Key concepts: What does courageous leadership really mean?

Before we dive into the how-to’s, let’s quickly define what we mean by “courageous leadership.” Brené Brown explains that leadership isn’t about having all the answers and showing no signs of weakness. Instead, it’s all about:

• Courage: The ability to take risks and lead initiatives, even when you can’t predict the outcome.
• Vulnerability: Yes, that’s right. Vulnerability means admitting you don’t have all the answers, showing authenticity, and being open to the fact that you might fail—something that’s often seen as taboo in traditional leadership models.
• Connection: Engaging with your team on a deeper level—showing empathy, listening, and fostering genuine relationships.

The idea here is that a leader builds trust, fosters a culture of innovation, and ultimately creates an environment where everyone feels safe enough to bring their “full selves” to work. Sound good? Let’s get into the steps to help you build a courageous leadership style that reflects these values!

Step-by-step guide to building a courageous leadership style

Step 1: Embrace vulnerability

This might be the hardest step for many of us because we’ve always been taught that leaders show strength, not what might be perceived as emotional “weakness.” But here’s the catch: Authentic leadership doesn’t mean you have everything figured out; it’s being able to acknowledge what you don’t know.

How to do it?

1. Start with admitting vulnerability in small ways. For example, say, “I don’t have the answer to this right now,” during team meetings, or physically say aloud, “I’m feeling uncertain about this.” These simple admissions can create a culture where your team also feels safe to admit their own vulnerabilities.
2. Be transparent about your mistakes. Brené Brown talks about owning your story. If you make a bad call, acknowledge it and talk openly about what caused the mistake and what you’ve learned.
3. Lead with empathy. Ask questions to understand others’ feelings and perspectives. If someone is struggling, instead of pretending it doesn’t exist, ask, “How can I support you?” Showing vulnerability in recognizing emotions makes you more relatable.

Step 2: Create a culture of trust and safety

No courageous leader can succeed without creating a trusting environment. Trust is the cornerstone of teamwork and innovation. When your team feels safe to express themselves, they also feel comfortable enough to bring you their best ideas.

How to build trust?

• Be consistent: If you say you’re going to do something, do it. Repeated follow-through builds reliability over time.
• Give and ask for feedback: Encourage open communication. Set up regular feedback loops where both you and your team can respectfully critique each other. And when you do receive feedback, don’t get defensive. Reflect on it and take action where necessary.
• Recognize efforts and victories: Trust also grows when people feel seen and appreciated. Celebrate small and big wins and do it publicly whenever possible.

Step 3: Be clear with your vision and values

People follow leaders who have a strong sense of purpose. To lead courageously, you’ve got to be transparent not only with your vision but also with your values. What do you stand for, and what are you working toward?

1. Define your personal values: Take time to reflect on what principles you want to govern your leadership, such as honesty, transparency, and growth. Write them down if you have to, and make sure you communicate those values consistently to your team.
2. Set clear goals and expectations: You can’t expect others to hit targets or adopt certain behaviors if you’re not clear about what those targets and preferred behaviors are. Set transparent and achievable goals and make sure your team understands them.
3. Lead by example: Live out the values you define daily. If “honesty” is a value you preach, but you’re cutting corners or withholding information, it’ll come back to hurt your leadership credibility.

Step 4: Foster innovation (and accept failure)

One key insight from Dare to Lead is that courageous leadership requires creating an environment where innovation can thrive. However, fostering creativity means accepting that failure is part of the deal.

How to encourage innovation?

• Create psychological safety: Ensure your team knows there’s room for experimentation. Let them know that not every idea will be a winner, but it’s the effort of trying new things that counts.
• Encourage curiosity: Ask your team open-ended questions like, “What can we do differently?” or “How would you approach this problem?” Let them think outside the box without immediately shutting down ideas that may seem unconventional.
• De-stigmatize failure: Talk about your own failures, so your team sees failure as a learning opportunity rather than something that halts progress. Reward risk-taking even if the results weren’t what you expected.

Step 5: Practice self-care and resilience

Look, being courageous day in and day out is hard. Leadership can be draining, and if you’re burned out, your team will feel it too. Brené Brown emphasizes the importance of practicing resilience as a method for sustaining courageous leadership.

How to stay resilient?

1. Set boundaries: It sounds simple, but you’ve got to make room for downtime. Let your team know they can take breaks, and lead by example by doing the same when needed.
2. Develop a support system: Find people—whether inside or outside of your organization—that you can lean on for advice, perspective, or even just to blow off some steam. Strong leaders don’t go it alone.
3. Check in with yourself often: Are you feeling overwhelmed or irritable? Take stock of your emotions regularly, and if you’re finding yourself on edge, it might be time to recalibrate.

Step 6: Promote inclusivity and empowerment

A courageous leader empowers their team. When leaders build a culture of inclusivity, where every person’s voice is heard, each team member feels valued and inspired to contribute their best. Remember, diverse teams lead to more innovative solutions and foster growth.

• Actively listen: During meetings, make space for everyone to contribute, especially those who may feel unheard.
• Share the mic: If you’re always the one dominating conversations, take a step back and let others lead on occasions.
• Encourage professional growth: Ask your team members about their personal development goals and provide opportunities for growth. Offer support, mentorship, or even suggest books that can help in their journey!

Practical tips for everyday courageous leadership

1. Run courageous conversations: Whether it’s executing feedback sessions or addressing conflicts head-on, always aim to have open, respectful, and direct conversations. Avoid sweeping issues under the rug.
2. Lead with compassion: Even in moments of high stress, practice putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. Your team will see this, and it will inspire them to do the same for others.
3. Keep a failure journal: One quirky yet effective tactic is maintaining a “failure journal” where you record your mistakes and note what you learned from them. Over time, you’ll notice that what initially seems like failure often leads to breakthrough moments of growth.

Conclusion: Take action and be the leader you were meant to be

At the heart of Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead is a profound truth: Leadership is all about courage—and that includes embracing vulnerability, building trust, and fostering a space where innovation flourishes. These ingredients might sound straightforward, but mastering them takes time, practice, and a lot of self-awareness.

If you’re ready to take your leadership skills to the next level, start by incorporating these six steps into your everyday routine. Remember, the journey to becoming a courageous leader is continuous, but each small step adds up to big changes. Be deliberate, consistent, and don’t be afraid to learn along the way.

So, here’s your call to action: Pick up a copy of Dare to Lead if you haven’t already and start putting these practices into place. I dare you to lead courageously!