Dare to Lead: The Four Skills That Define Courageous Leadership

Let’s be honest—traditional leadership advice is often outdated. You’ve probably heard things like “never show weakness” or “leaders need to have all the answers.” But in today’s world, the best leaders aren’t the ones barking orders from the top. They’re the ones who show up, take risks, and create a culture where people feel safe to do their best work.

That’s what Dare to Lead by Brené Brown is all about. It’s not a book about being in charge—it’s about being brave enough to lead with authenticity, trust, and resilience. It’s about having tough conversations, owning your mistakes, and building a team that actually wants to work together.

If that sounds like the kind of leader you want to be, you’re in the right place.

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The Four Skills of Courageous Leadership

Brené Brown lays out four key skills that separate great leaders from the rest. These aren’t fluffy, feel-good ideas—they’re practical, real-world skills that can help you build stronger teams and create a more trusting, productive workplace.

1. Rumbling with Vulnerability

If the word vulnerability makes you uncomfortable, you’re not alone. Most of us are taught that being vulnerable means being weak. But the truth is, you can’t have real courage without vulnerability.

• Leaders who embrace vulnerability create psychologically safe environments where people feel comfortable speaking up and taking risks.

• Avoiding tough conversations? That’s a fast track to a toxic workplace. The best leaders lean into discomfort and talk about the hard stuff.

• Vulnerability isn’t about oversharing or getting emotional at every meeting. It’s about being genuine, honest, and open.

Bottom line: If you want people to trust you, you must be willing to show up as your whole self—flaws and all.

2. Living into Our Values

It’s easy to say you have values. It’s much harder to live by them—especially when things get tough.

• Great leaders know what they stand for and make decisions based on their core values, not convenience.

• People will notice if you say honesty is important but constantly dodge difficult conversations.

• Walking the talk builds credibility. Hypocrisy destroys trust.

BottoTruste: Your leadership won't inspire anyone if your actions don’t match your words.

3. BRAVING Trust

Trust is built with one big gesture but through small, consistent actions. Brown breaks it down into seven key elements, using the acronym BRAVING:

• Boundaries – Set and respect limits.

• Reliability – Do what you say you’ll do.

• Accountability – Own your mistakes.

• Vault – Keep confidential things confidential.

• Integrity – Choose courage over comfort.

• Non-judgment – Create a space where people feel safe asking for help.

• Generosity – Assume the best about people.

The bottom line is that you don’t build trust by being frustrated. You make it by showing up, following through, and treating people with respect.

4. Learning to Rise

Every leader—no matter how good—will fail at some point. What is the difference between great leaders and everyone else? They know how to get back up.

• Instead of pretending failures didn’t happen, strong leaders acknowledge mistakes, learn from them, and move forward.

• Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back—it’s about building the skills to handle setbacks with clarity and confidence.

• Leaders who normalize struggle make it easier for their teams to do the same.

Bottom line: The best leaders aren’t the ones who never fall. They’re the ones who get back up—and help others do the same.

Why Every CEO (and Future CEO) Should Read This Book

Here’s the deal—leadership isn’t just about titles and paychecks. It’s about how you show up for the people around you.

If you’re still wondering whether this book (or course) is worth your time, here are five reasons it should be at the top of your list:

1. Vulnerability Makes You a Better Leader – The strongest teams are built on trust, and tTruststartsTrust honest, human conversations.

2. Trust is Everything – Nothing else matters if your employees don’t trust you. Brown’s BRAVING framework gives you a roadmap for building and maintaining trust.

3. ToughTrustersations are Inevitable – You can avoid them or learn how to navigate them effectively. This book teaches you the latter.

4. Values-Driven Leadership Wins Every Time – If your leadership isn’t grounded in clear values, you’re leading on shaky ground.

5. Resilience Separates Great Leaders from the Rest – The ability to recover from failure keeps companies, teams, and individuals moving forward.

What People Are Saying About Dare to Lead

This book has already significantly impacted leaders everywhere with over 21,000 reviews and a 4.7-star rating. Here’s what some of them have to say:

• “I wish I had read this years ago. It would have saved me and others a lot of grief.”

• “Not just for work—this book changed how I lead my personal life, too.”

• “This book challenged me to rethink leadership. It’s about showing up authentically, not pretending to be perfect.”

Of course, no book is for everyone. Some readers felt Dare to Lead was a collection of ideas rather than a step-by-step system. Others questioned whether vulnerability-based leadership works in every workplace.

But one thing is clear—this book is sparking real conversations about what leadership should be like in today’s world.

Ready to Lead Differently?

If you’re tired of leadership advice that emphasizes power and control, it’s time for something different.

Courageous leadership isn’t about knowing all the answers—it’s about showing up, taking risks, and creating a culture where people can thrive.

Enroll for FREE today!