Audible Book Review: Dare to Lead by Brené Brown

I learned several useful techniques in this audio.
Dare to Lead
Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.
By: Brené Brown
Narrated by: Brené Brown

Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins
Release date: 10-09-18
Publisher: Random House Audio
Genre: Leadership, Personal Success
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
Number-one New York Times best seller.
Brené Brown has taught us what it means to dare greatly, rise strong, and brave the wilderness. Now, based on new research conducted with leaders, change makers, and culture shifters, she’s showing us how to put those ideas into practice so we can step up and lead.
Don’t miss the hour-long Netflix special Brené Brown: The Call to Courage!
Named one of the best books of the year by Bloomberg.
Leadership is not about titles, status, and wielding power. A leader is anyone who takes responsibility for recognizing the potential in people and ideas and has the courage to develop that potential.
When we dare to lead, we don’t pretend to have the right answers; we stay curious and ask the right questions. We don’t see power as finite and hoard it; we know that power becomes infinite when we share it with others. We don’t avoid difficult conversations and situations; we lean into vulnerability when it's necessary to do good work.
But daring leadership in a culture that’s defined by scarcity, fear, and uncertainty requires skill-building around traits that are deeply and uniquely human. The irony is that we’re choosing not to invest in developing the hearts and minds of leaders at the exact same time as we’re scrambling to figure out what we have to offer that machines and AI can’t do better and faster. What can we do better? Empathy, connection, and courage, to start.
Brené Brown has spent the past two decades studying the emotions and experiences that give meaning to our lives, and the past seven years working with transformative leaders and teams spanning the globe. She found that leaders in organizations ranging from small entrepreneurial startups and family-owned businesses to nonprofits, civic organizations, and Fortune 50 companies all ask the same question:
How do you cultivate braver, more daring leaders, and how do you embed the value of courage in your culture?
In this new audiobook, Brown uses research, stories, and examples to answer these questions in the no-BS style that millions have come to expect and love. Brown writes, “One of the most important findings of my career is that daring leadership is a collection of four skill sets that are 100 percent teachable, observable, and measurable. It’s learning and unlearning that requires brave work, tough conversations, and showing up with your whole heart. Easy? No. Because choosing courage over comfort is not always our default. Worth it? Always. We want to be brave with our lives and our work. It’s why we’re here.”
Whether you’ve read Daring Greatly and Rising Strong or you’re new to Brené Brown’s work, this audiobook is for anyone who wants to step up and into brave leadership.
©2018 Brené Brown (P)2018 Random House Audio

Review:
The blurb gives a good summary of much of the book content. Ms. Brown has put together down to earth, realistic observances and suggestions for how best to lead successfully. She addresses subjects that include vulnerability and empathy, courage (including the courage to listen openly to criticism), living your values, and rising above past shames, obstructions, and other struggles.

I appreciated the personal stories and examples that were shared. I didn’t feel that all of the techniques would work in a very small business office but there are many strong elements to be aware of and that can be used in business settings.

My son recommended this, and I did find it inspirational and helpful. I do recommend this as a good addition to a library of self-development and leadership training. The author shares links to great resources on her website.

Audio Notes: The author delivers her work with clear and direct presentation. The listener captures a bit of the feel of Ms. Brown as a conference leader. One con on the audiobook version is that the work is broken into long sections (over an hour on several of them) rather than shorter sections to read and think on before moving on.

Source: May 15, 2022 Audible 2 April Credit picks. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, and Nonfiction goals.