If you’re in the world of leadership development, or even just popular psychology, chances are you’ve heard of Dr. Brené Brown and her bestselling Dare to Lead book. Based on over seven years of research, this book makes the case for why strong leadership is actually all about leading with trust and vulnerability.
In this Dare to Lead book review, I’ll share key takeaways and how you can apply these principles in your leadership journey.
What Is the Dare to Lead Book About?
Courage in leadership is something many leaders struggle with. Leading confidently and courageously is important—but difficult. The Dare to Lead book is an invitation and guide from Brené Brown to step into courageous leadership. She does this through compelling stories and data-driven strategies to help leaders cultivate trust, manage vulnerability, and lead wholeheartedly.
The book outlines four core skill sets necessary for daring leadership:
- Rumbling with vulnerability
- Living into our values
- Braving trust
- Learning to rise
These may sound like soft skills, but in reality, they are teachable, measurable, and observable behaviors that transform leadership from the inside out.
Key Takeaways from the Dare to Lead Book
1. Rumbling with Vulnerability
This skill is about having the courage to engage in hard conversations and embrace uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure. Leaders must lean into discomfort, be honest about their fears, and prioritize connection over control. Rumbling isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about staying curious and grounded during difficult moments.
2. Living into Our Values
Living into your values means identifying what matters most to you—and aligning your behaviors and decisions with those values every day. It’s about operationalizing your values, especially during moments of conflict or pressure. For example, if honesty is a core value, a leader might communicate transparently and avoid corporate jargon so that expectations are clearly understood by all. (See asaecenter.org for more info)
3. Braving Trust
BRAVING is an acronym that breaks trust into seven measurable components: Boundaries, Reliability, Accountability, Vault (confidentiality), Integrity, Nonjudgment, and Generosity. Trust is not a soft skill—it is foundational for effective teams. This framework provides a roadmap for assessing and repairing trust within teams. (Stay tuned for a full breakdown of this in a future blog!)
4. Learning to Rise
This skill is focused on resilience. It’s about building emotional awareness and recovering from setbacks. Leaders learn how to own their stories, identify how they respond to failure, and rise stronger. Normalizing struggle and creating space for growth is essential in cultures that value courage.
Why Dare to Lead Resonates with Today’s Leaders
The Dare to Lead book addresses the real, messy challenges leaders face today. Issues like:
- Burnout
- Disconnection
- Perfectionism
- Fear of feedback
These are silent killers of collaboration and team performance, especially in high-performance environments. Without courage, it’s nearly impossible to build trust or offer meaningful feedback. Brené Brown’s work shows leaders how to dismantle these barriers and replace them with emotional intelligence, resilience, and purpose-driven leadership.
My Dare to Lead Book Review
As both a leadership coach and psychologist, I’ve seen firsthand the impact that courageous leadership has on individuals and organizations. In my own reading and in my training as a Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator, I’ve seen how Brené Brown’s work aligns beautifully with research in behavior change, motivation, and trust-building.
The Dare to Lead curriculum is an incredible tool for any organization serious about developing emotionally intelligent, values-aligned leadership. When leaders learn to rumble with vulnerability, they foster real connection. When teams commit to rising after failure, they become resilient. When values are lived, not just talked about, performance aligns with purpose.
Dare to Lead is more than a book. It’s a guidepost for a new kind of leadership—one rooted in empathy, trust, and bravery.
How to Bring the Dare to Lead Book to Life
Reading the Dare to Lead book is transformative, but working with a Certified Dare to Lead Facilitator takes things to the next level. Facilitators are trained directly by Brené Brown’s team to deliver tailored workshops and coaching engagements that activate the book’s principles in real time.
As a Certified Dare to Lead Facilitator, I collaborate with leadership teams to develop the courage-building skills needed for meaningful change. Together, we practice tools like giving clear and engaged feedback, spotting armored behaviors, and building psychological safety on teams.
If your team is ready to move from armored to daring leadership, I’d love to work with you. Contact me today to learn more about Dare to Lead facilitation.
Final Thoughts
The Dare to Lead book offers more than insight—it provides a path forward for leaders ready to make real change. By practicing vulnerability, aligning with values, building trust, and learning to rise, leaders can create workplaces that are brave, connected, and resilient.
Leadership is not about perfection. It’s about courage, growth, and service. If you’re ready to become a more courageous leader, I’d love to support you. 👉 Reach out today to explore leadership coaching options tailored to you or your organization.