Brené Brown on Being a Steady Leader in Tumultuous Times

In this episode of the HBR IdeaCast, Adi Ignatius interviews researcher and author Brené Brown about her new book, "Strong Ground," and the challenges of leadership in a dynamic and uncertain world. Brown introduces the concept of "strong ground" as a metaphor for grounding oneself in values to achieve stability and agility. She critiques the idea of "executive presence," advocating instead for "pocket presence," which includes anticipatory thinking, temporal awareness, and situational awareness. Brown emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and emotional intelligence for effective leadership, and the need for leaders to create time for thoughtful reflection and decision-making. She argues that many leaders are currently "dysregulated, distrustful, and disconnected," and that taking a breath to slow down and be more thoughtful is a crucial first step toward better leadership.