Brené Brown On “Contagious” Calmness And The Most Important Qualities for Leaders

Guild CEO Rachel Romer and best-selling author Adam Grant talk to Brené Brown, renowned professor and author about how leaders can best support frontline workers and creating workplaces that work. They touch on leadership, vulnerability, and addressing the mismatch between talent and opportunity in the United States. Brown discusses introducing vulnerability and bravery into leadership with a focus on America’s frontline workforce. 

Key takeaways from our conversation with Brené:

• Contagious Calmness: Learn tactics for becoming a calm leader and creating space between stimulus and response. Discover how to break free from the grip of anxiety and inspire tranquility within your organization.
• Unscripted Empathy: Understand the fundamentals of empathetic leadership, where active listening, thoughtful questioning, and genuine reflection reign supreme. Say goodbye to rigid scripts and hello to deep connections that foster trust, creativity, and innovation.
• Overcoming Shame with Empathy: Shame is a universal emotion that can cripple individuals and organizations. Unearth the power of empathy in challenging negative self-talk and transforming workplace narratives. Learn how to construct a compassionate environment where everyone thrives.

Join us for a provocative conversation that will equip you with the tools to create space, manage anxiety, and cultivate empathy within all levels of your organization. This episode will empower you to deconstruct negative stories, foster positive growth, and create an empathetic workplace culture that inspires greatness.

More resources from Guild

About Brené Brown:

Dr. Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston, where she holds the Huffington Foundation Endowed Chair at the Graduate College of Social Work. She also holds the position of visiting professor in management at the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business. 

Brené has spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. She is the author of six #1 New York Times bestsellers and is the host of two award-winning podcasts, Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead.

Brené’s books have been translated into more than 30 languages, and her titles include Atlas of the Heart, Dare to Lead, Braving the Wilderness, Rising Strong, Daring Greatly, and The Gifts of Imperfection. With Tarana Burke, she co-edited the bestselling anthology You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience.

Brené’s TED talk on the Power of Vulnerability is one of the top five most-viewed TED talks in the world, with over 60 million views. Brené is the first researcher to have a filmed lecture on Netflix, and in March 2022, she launched a new show on HBO Max that focuses on her latest book, Atlas of the Heart. 

Brené spends most of her time working in organizations around the world, helping develop braver leaders and more courageous cultures. 

She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband, Steve. They have two children, Ellen and Charlie, and a weird Bichon named Lucy.