Book Review of Dare to Lead by Brene Brown- a captivating book that explores the concepts of leadership and vulnerability. 

Introduction: 

Dare to Lead by Brené Brown isn't just a book; it's a transformative journey into the heart of leadership. In its pages, Brown illuminates the path to fearless, wholehearted leadership, where vulnerability isn't a weakness but the key to creating lasting impact and resilient, thriving teams. Are you ready to dare greatly and lead boldly? 

Leadership goes beyond invulnerability; it's rooted in the power to embrace vulnerability. In the complex journey of guiding and empowering others, authentic leaders recognize the bravery to reveal their humanity, rather than an illusion of infallibility, that forges the strongest bonds and ignites the most daring innovations.

I stumbled upon Dare to Lead because I want to be a stronger leader. I want to be more comfortable with being vulnerable in a professional setting. This book has undoubtedly heightened my knowledge of leadership and the importance of being a vulnerable one. Vulnerable leadership fosters authenticity, trust, and continuous improvement. Not only does Brown have a captivating way of sharing her thoughts and research, but she does so in a way that inspires the reader. 

There are a lot of emotions I felt when reading this book. I felt resentment because I wanted to be the kind of leader she was urging the audience to be. Brown was describing vulnerable, powerful, and courageous leaders, something I was not able to relate to. I think that is where some of the resentment came from. But with that resentment came the desire to become and represent all those characteristics. Although I wasn’t able to say I was the best leader currently, I had the desire to become a stronger one. Isn’t that what matters; the efforts to become better and grow? Her tasteful way of writing inspired me to want to be a vulnerable leader, one that would and could follow her four skill sets: Rumbling with Vulnerability, Living into our Values, Braving Trust, and Learning to Rise.

Review: 

Brown masterfully delves into the realms of leadership, vulnerability, and courage and what ties all three of them together.  Her style of writing is unique, creative, and easy to follow, allowing readers of all ages to pick up the book and dive in. My review of this book will further analyze her writing style, content, credibility, favorite quotes, and the impressions it had on me. 

There are hundreds of leadership books out there. A simple Google search would prove that. So how does one differentiate theirs from the hundreds of others that readers have access to? Brown does so through her unique and young writing style. She effortlessly uses personal anecdotes while tying in her research findings, but, she does so in a light way. She doesn’t include chapters filled with cold hard facts without breaking down each one in a relatable and easy-to-understand way. 

The way that she writes makes the complex topic of leadership feel more relatable and doable to the reader. Her writing in the book is conversational, which makes the book a smooth, enjoyable, and easy read with a positive and inspiring touch. 

Dare to Lead delivers on its promise by providing a fresh perspective on leadership. Brown defies traditional beliefs of invulnerability in leadership, emphasizing the power of vulnerability and authenticity. As I mentioned above, Brown writes in an easy and conversational style. So, even though throughout the book she is urging readers to follow four skill sets of brave leadership;  Rumbling with Vulnerability, Living into Our Values, Braving Trust, and Learning to Rise.  All of it seems completely doable to the reader. 

With plenty of reasons to back her credibility, it is important to recognize the accomplishments Brown has made. She is an esteemed researcher and TED Talk speaker.  Her credibility in the fields of vulnerability, courage, and leadership is unquestionable. She supports all of her ideas, shared in and out of her book, with years of research and personal stories. Brown completed her Bachelor of Social Work degree at UT Austin in 1995, followed by her Master of Social Work degree in 1996, and her Doctor of Philosophy degree in social work at the University of Houston Graduate School of Social Work in 2002. Brown, without question, has proven herself worthy of being heard. 

In conclusion, Dare to Lead delivers invaluable insights into the importance of vulnerability. Recognizing that vulnerability is not a weakness but a powerful tool for connection, trust, and innovation. Brown's emphasis on values-based leadership is timely and transformative, especially in today’s world. 

Some of my favorite quotes from the book are: 

"Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it's having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome" (Brown, 2018, p. 19-20).  I love that it explains that vulnerability isn’t about failure or success, it's showing up in uncomfortable situations, in situations where we can’t predict the future. That is what truly matters, showing up.

Although this one is widely talked about and well known, I believe it holds immense value, “I define a leader as anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes, and who has the courage to develop that potential” (Brown, 2018, p. 4). To be a leader you have to want to take the initiative in finding the potential in others. It's not whether or not you can, but whether or not you do something with that information. You have to want to see others succeed, you have to want to build others up and not just yourself.

“If you are not in the arena getting your ass kicked on occasion, I’m not interested in or open to your feedback. There are a million cheap seats in the world today filled with people who will never be brave with their lives but who will spend every ounce of energy they have hurling advice and judgment at those who dare greatly. Their only contributions are criticism, cynicism, and fear-mongering. If you’re criticizing from a place where you’re not also putting yourself on the line, I’m not interested in what you have to say” (Brown, 2018, p. 20). This quote is harsh criticism but bluntly true. You can’t criticize, give your feedback, or your opinion if you are not putting in the work to get better and putting yourself in situations where you are bound to grow. Feedback from those actively engaged in similar challenges holds more value. Critiques from bystanders, who don't take risks themselves, often lack depth and understanding. Brown encourages us to prioritize feedback from those who share the same experiences and struggles as us.

“We are not here to fit in, be well-balanced, or provide examples for others. We are here to be eccentric, different, perhaps strange, perhaps merely to add our small piece, our little clunky, chunky selves, to the great mosaic of being. As the gods intended, we are here to become more and more ourselves” (Brown, 2018, p. 280). I love this quote because although this quote is related to leadership, it can also be taken in several different ways. This quote reminds me to be more kind to myself, appreciate my differences, and love that I am unique. Our purpose in life is to embrace our uniqueness. We're not meant to conform. We must be our most authentic selves.

Conclusion: 

If I had to rate the book on a scale of “1- 10”, I would rate it a 9/10 without a second thought. Let me give you my reasoning… It was definitely above average, so easily 6 and above. It wasn’t perfect. One thing I would change was the length. Although the book was an easy and fun read, the book was lengthy and some of the chapters seemed repetitive. I am not sure whether or not that was intentional. What was repeated was what was the most important and valuable. But, I could see Brown being able to shorten some of the content.  Besides that change, I enjoyed it, it was an easy and liberating read. 

I would recommend this book to leaders and managers, aspiring leaders, team members, educators, parents, those seeking personal growth and development, and anyone looking for inspiration and guidance to become a stronger leader. In truth, this book is valuable to anyone interested and willing to learn and put in the effort to improve their leadership skills. 

Author Profile: 

Brené Brown is a renowned American research professor, author, and speaker, known for her work on vulnerability, courage, and empathy. Her books and talks emphasize embracing vulnerability and imperfection for more authentic living. Brown's research and insights have a significant impact on personal development and leadership. Brown completed a Bachelor of Social Work degree at UT Austin in 1995, followed by a Master of Social Work degree in 1996, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in social work at the University of Houston Graduate School of Social Work in 2002. To learn more about this astounding author, browse her website and better get to know her! https://brenebrown.com/ 

Citations

Brown, B. (2023, November 4). Brené Brown. https://brenebrown.com/

OpenAI. (2024, January 15). Review of "Dare to Lead" by Brené Brown, Shortened. Retrieved from [insert URL if applicable]

Wikimedia Foundation. (2023, December 27). Brené Brown. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bren%C3%A9_Brown#:~:text=Brown%20completed%20a%20Bachelor%20of,of%20Social%20Work%20in%202002.