In this episode of the Blanchard LeaderChat podcast, Chad Gordon interviews Dr. Brené Brown, researcher and author of three #1 New York Times Bestsellers: The Gifts of Imperfection (2010), Daring Greatly (2012), and Rising Strong (2015). Brown and her work have been featured on PBS, NPR, CNN, and at TEDx Houston, where in 2010 she presented one of the top five most viewed TED talks of all time.

Brown describes her work with large organizations on the topics of vulnerability, empathy, courage, and values—and how to make skills in these areas a part of your leadership development efforts.

Drawing from fifteen years of research, Brown shares how to be a courageous leader. Her findings?  Vulnerability is courage in the face of risk, uncertainty, and emotional exposure.  According to Brown, you have to be willing to show up, be seen, and be all in—even when you can’t control the outcome.

As Brown explains, “What do transformational leaders have in common?  A capacity for discomfort and a keen awareness of both their own emotional landscape and the emotional landscapes of others.”

Brown also shares key points from her most recent book, Rising Strong—teaching leaders how to get back up when they fall in the service of being brave.

Be sure to listen to the very end of this 35-minute interview to hear Ken Blanchard share his thoughts and personal takeaways on Brené’s ideas.