Soft as Nails

Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. by Brené Brown
Random House, October 9, 2018

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Brené Brown’s new book is prescriptive, in the best possible way. From beginning to end, it is committed to the direct yet challenging message of its title: Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. Brown, well known for her humane and convincing work on courage and vulnerability, brings her new research focus to the world of work, specifically to the work of being a leader. This volume, of all her books, is closest to educators and schools. In it, Brown gives the reader language and specific tools, practices, and behaviors that are critical to brave leadership. In particular, she focuses on the capacity to approach tough conversations with vulnerability, the commitment to live our values, the willingness to risk trust in oppositional situations, and the ability to rise to effective leadership in the most challenging times. She boldly exposes why some familiar leadership styles will fail to meet the demands of our times, and why others will go the distance. She outlines how the skill-sets needed by humane, vulnerable, risk-taking, successful leaders are not "soft skills" but well-defined, evidence-based attributes that can be taught and learned. This book holds an important message for anyone with responsibility for inclusive environments, productive relationships, and cultures of trust in any aspect of life in schools.