Strong Ground: The Lessons of Daring Leadership, the Tenacity of Paradox, and the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit
By Brené Brown
Random House, 448 pages
Published September 23, 202
Brené Brown, prolific in her research and writing about emotions – particularly shame and vulnerability – continues to expand her work with Strong Ground. Her research at the University of Houston’s College of Social Work helps people understand emotions and use that knowledge about themselves and others to navigate daily life more effectively — work she now brings to her consulting with Fortune 500 companies and that she applied to leadership in 2018’s Dare to Lead.
Strong Ground often feels like you are participating in one of Brown’s workshops; her voice and humor shine through the conversational writing style and her thoughts are organized into short “sessions,” with each chapter focused on a specific tool or leadership framework. Her premise is that we live in a tumultuous time, and the world around us constantly shifts. To thrive in this unstable world, we need strong leaders who put kindness first and help us connect to our humanity, fostering connection and collaboration. In Brown’s opinion, this is in stark contrast to the popular view of bombastic leaders who use bravado and force to manipulate people. While many of us shy away from the paradoxes of modern life, the daring leader will embrace that tension. In companies, paradox shows up in many forms: profit and purpose, discipline and creativity, control and autonomy, to name a few. Brown quotes James March in one paradox she returns to throughout the book: “(l)eadership is plumbing and poetry.”
“Leadership is plumbing and poetry.”
Church leaders can relate: we are called to be prophetic, while quite literally keeping the plumbing and electricity working. A pastor might play the roles of plumber and poet on the same day! While Strong Ground might provide church leaders with tools and general encouragement, it is probably not the best playbook for this work, as Brown’s research focuses on larger organizations with clear goals for profit and product. Some of her frameworks, such as the “Engaged Feedback Checklist,” could be helpful for church leaders to model, but they will not work in all church settings.
She dedicates many chapters to “introducing” the reader to other writers and their work, often inserting long excerpts from their books or interviews from her podcast. This highlights many great thinkers in the areas of leadership science and sociology and offers readers a snapshot of their work, but it feels quite redundant for those already familiar with these works. Similarly, Brown recycles much of her own research and writing from earlier books, articles, and podcasts, which can be repetitive for some readers.
It is refreshing to see research-backed data showing that leaders who are kind and compassionate…
Overall, Strong Ground offers deep insights about how leaders can shape companies and individuals to better navigate our uncertain world. Her target audience is team leaders in large organizations, and so Christians seeking to live their faith in the workplace will find her specific and actionable tools applicable.
It is refreshing to see research-backed data showing that leaders who are kind and compassionate, and who guide with connection and collaboration rather than an iron fist, are making a positive impact in the business world today.
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