What comes to mind when you think of a brave and strong leader?
images of a person who is unwavering and authoritative? someone who expects perfection and hides their vulnerability?
You are reading: Brene brown leadership books
i had these same images in mind before i read brené brown’s enormously daring ny times bestseller. brené brown turns this idea on its head by showing us that immersing ourselves in vulnerability and enduring our imperfections is what really makes us truly brave.
brené’s main message: the more we protect ourselves from vulnerability, the more fearful and armored we become. and, armored, doesn’t make a great leader.
vulnerability became his claim to fame
while working as a research professor at the university of houston in 2010, she received an invitation to give a tedx talk. her talk on the subject of vulnerability went viral. her at the time of this writing, she has 53,092,420 views on ted.com.
for those of you who missed that video and haven’t yet been swept up in the brené tornado of truth, let me introduce you. She is the author of four other #1 New York Times bestsellers, the host of the Unlocking Us podcast, and a Ted Talk dynamo.
This social scientist’s passionate netflix decided to set a precedent by recording her lecture so viewers could get a hit of her wisdom.
brenés friendly approach makes facing ourselves less scary
brené’s books belong to the categories of self-help and motivational management & leadership. her books delve into the themes of courage, shame, vulnerability, and empathy and how they are interconnected.
all of brené’s books are part intensive research, part candor and sage advice. her doctor of philosophy in social work informs her work, which is humanistic but firmly rooted in a research-oriented academic approach to getting answers.
His writing is peppered with funny and some heartbreaking stories that we can all relate to. Plus, one feature I love is that it provides writing exercises, so you can get to the heart of the matter and apply what you’re learning.
You know when you go to a carnival and you come across that house of mirrors? well, the next four books (also available on audible if you prefer to listen) will show you different reflections of yourself and help you embrace that stranger where you’re stretched out in an unnatural and horrible way.
brené guides you on the path to becoming more empathetic, vulnerable and willing to find your shame points, all the ingredients to become a strong leader and a happier person in general.
See Also: 12 Social Work Books Every Practitioner Should Read
I recommend reading the following four books in the order listed below. (but reading them in any order won’t detract from their impact).
I must admit that perfectionism was proudly displayed on my professional business card. After all, who wouldn’t want an employee who dots their i’s and crosses their t’s? Brené’s unboxing of perfectionism made me rethink my belief that it was a positive attribute.
I learned the difference between perfectionism and healthy effort. a quote from the gifts of imperfection: let go of who you think you’re supposed to be and accept who you are:
“Perfectionism is a self-destructive and addictive belief system that fuels this core thought: If I look perfect and do everything perfectly, I can avoid or minimize painful feelings of shame, judgment, and guilt.”
In this book, Brené shares her concept of living wholeheartedly, a way of relating to the world from a place of dignity.
brené provides 10 guides to live wholeheartedly:
Once you’ve worked through at least a few of those ten guides, you’re ready to go big!
brené delves into the theme of shame in this book. identifies categories of shame, including the following:
- appearance & body image
- money & work
- family
- parenting
- mental & physical health
- addiction
- sex
- aging
- religion
- surviving trauma
- be stereotyped or labelled
any of these can be a trigger for many of us. Carrying shame is an evil growth that must be removed with patience and care.
and a courageous leader understands that we are all human and have imperfections, fears and shame. In Brene’s words, a courageous leader is someone who says, I see you. I hear you. I don’t have all the answers, but I’ll keep listening and asking questions.
Many leaders are afraid to “go there” and guard against listening to what their employees need and feel about their roles. managers should be able to recognize their own shame points to recognize if they are operating from this place.
When shame points are identified, it is possible to face them and stand up strong.
Brené’s book, Growing Up Strong: How the Ability to Reset Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead, published in 2015, is about cultivating boundaries, not comparing ourselves to others, and owning our history.
See Also: LIST: These famous books were written by Alabama authors | WHNT.com
There are dozens of guardians, but this line is my go-to: stay in your own lane. comparison kills creativity and joy.
That’s something we can all benefit from. leaders can be especially guilty of constantly comparing their employees to each other and assuming that there is a stable and level playing field.
A leader who invites difficult conversations may discover that a person is dealing with something extraordinary and needs a break. or that a person is neurodiverse.
There are many reasons why making comparisons without a thorough understanding of the circumstances may be unfair.
When you’ve faced your imperfections, explored your shame points, and shown your vulnerability, you’ll be living with more enthusiasm and becoming a leader in your own life, which will translate into your professional sphere.
Finally, my favorite so far, Dare to Lead: Courageous Work. difficult conversations. whole hearts. if you want to take your leadership to the next level, the new leadership bible is dare to lead.
dare to lead is putting into practice the three best books of your career.
Packed with practical and tactical advice, this book is an absolute must-read for anyone who wants to find meaning in their work and for companies who want to create a courageous culture that supports being real by fostering ownership, honesty, and values with clearly defined results and behaviors.
of course, brené says it best:
“A courageous culture connects its values with specific behaviors so people know what is expected, encouraged and rewarded within their team and organization. In addition to setting clear expectations, the process provides organizations with a shared language and well-defined culture. It helps us determine cultural fit during hiring and gives us very simple standards of behavior when there are non-performance issues.”
Dare to Lead is tactical and actionable with free downloadable workbooks and tools at Brené’s Dare to Lead hub.
brené brown says that the more we protect ourselves from vulnerability, the more fearful and disconnected we grow. being vulnerable then means the opposite: engaging fully and openly with those around us.
brené’s vulnerable expression emphasizes that this is not a smooth ride on a flat plane.
then if you want to become a truly courageous leader in every area of your life, these books are just what the doctor ordered: dr. brené brown that is.
See Also: Why Were Some Books Left Out of the Bible? – The Good Book Blog – Biola University