Brené Brown has spent more than two decades studying courage, vulnerability, and leadership. Her work has changed how we talk about shame and belonging—and helped millions of people lead with more humanity. 

In her new book, Strong Ground, Brené introduces the idea of “grounded confidence”: a practice of leading with consistency, clarity, and courage instead of bravado. She argues that the strongest leaders aren’t the loudest or the most certain. They’re the ones willing to hold paradoxes, set boundaries, and strip away the armor that keeps us stuck.

In this episode of Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel sits down with Brené to talk about what it really takes to lead today, and why developing human skills, like courage and empathy, matters more than ever.

Jessi and Brené discuss:

Why we’ve been “building on dysfunction” at work—and how to stop

How to embrace paradox instead of rushing toward certainty

Why grounded confidence is a stronger foundation than bravado

What leaders get wrong about vulnerability

How values clarify choices and protect against resentment

Practical ways to set boundaries and build trust

Why human skills are the real core muscles of work today

Continue the conversation with us at Hello Monday Office Hours! Join us Wednesday at 3 PM ET on the LinkedIn News page.

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