Boundaries have direct and clear expectations for what’s okay and what’s not okay.
Reliability awareness of limitations, not overcommitting/overpromising
delivering on commitments to others, and self balance responsibilities and priorities
Following through, being reliable. Doing what you say you’re going to do.
Accountability acknowledging and taking responsibility for mistakes, apologizing, and repairing the
relationship.
Vault holding what is said to you in confidence if it is not yours to share. I can trust you to keep what is shared between us, and that private information others have shared with you will not be shared with me.
Integrity Owning and living your values, not just professing them. Choosing courage over comfort; doing the right thing over what is easy, fun, or quick.
Nonjudgment has the safety to ask for what both people need. The safe space to talk about emotions with curiosity and not judgment.
Generosity Assuming positive intent in each other’s words and behaviors.
Who is Brené Brown?
Brené Brown is a research professor, author, and podcast host widely known for her work on courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. She has written six books that have reached the number-one spot on the New York Times bestseller list and has given several popular TED talks that millions have viewed. She also has a Netflix special and a documentary series on HBO Max based on her research and insights. This blog post will explore who Brené Brown is, what she does, and why her work matters.
Brené Brown was born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1965. She grew up in New Orleans and later moved back to Texas, where she attended the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Houston. She earned her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in social work and became a professor at the University of Houston’s Graduate College of Social Work. She also holds the Huffington Foundation Endowed Chair at the same institution and is a visiting professor in management at the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business.
Brown’s research focuses on human emotions and behaviors that are often considered difficult or uncomfortable, such as shame, fear, vulnerability, and courage. She uses qualitative methods, such as interviews and focus groups, to collect stories from people about their experiences with these topics. She then analyzes these stories using a grounded theory approach, which involves identifying patterns and themes that emerge from the data. She also draws on her own personal and professional experiences to illustrate and explain her findings.
Brown’s work has been widely influential in various fields and domains, such as education, health care, business, leadership, spirituality, and personal development. She has written six books that have become bestsellers: I Thought It Was Just Me (2007), The Gifts of Imperfection (2010), Daring Greatly (2012), Rising Strong (2015), Braving the Wilderness (2017), and Dare to Lead (2018). These books explore how embracing vulnerability, practicing authenticity, cultivating resilience, fostering belonging, and leading with courage can help people live more wholehearted and meaningful lives.
Brown has also given several TED talks that have gone viral online. Her first talk, “The Power of Vulnerability,” delivered at TEDxHouston in 2010, is one of the most viewed TED talks ever. In this talk, she shares her insights on how vulnerability is the core of human connection, creativity, and innovation. Her second talk, “Listening to Shame,” which she gave at TED in 2012, discusses how shame can hinder our growth and happiness and how we can overcome it by cultivating empathy and compassion.
In addition to her books and talks, Brown has also created other platforms to share her work with a broader audience. She hosts two podcasts on Spotify: Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead. In these podcasts, she interviews guests from different backgrounds and fields about their stories and perspectives on various topics related to her research. She also has a Netflix special, Brené Brown: The Call to Courage, released in 2019. In this special, she talks about how courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to act despite it. In 2022, she launched a documentary series on HBO Max called Brené Brown: Atlas of the Heart. This series is based on her book, which explores how different emotions shape our lives.
Brené Brown is more than just a researcher or an author. She is a storyteller who uses her skills and knowledge to inspire and empower people to live more fully and authentically. She challenges us to face our fears and embrace our vulnerabilities. She teaches us to be more compassionate and empathetic towards ourselves and others. She shows us how to be more courageous and daring personally and professionally. She is a leader who leads with her heart.
