Mental Toughness & Psychological Safety: The Keys to Great Leadership
Brené Brown’s book and workshop, Dare to Lead, have a misleading title. If I could rename it, I would call it …
Life Skills Everyone Thinks They Should Know (But Nobody Ever Taught You).
After years of teaching the Dare to Lead Certificate Workshop and working with hundreds of people, I’ve come to believe this is the workshop everyone needs — whether or not they see themselves as a leader.
The truth is, most people don’t identify as leaders. Even people who say they want to be leaders often hesitate if they don’t yet hold a title like manager, director, or CEO. Many assume that leadership belongs to “that crowd” — the people who already seem confident, experienced, and put together.
I get it. I felt that way too. In fact, I almost didn’t take the Dare to Lead training myself until my husband asked me a simple question:
“Why wouldn’t you take the Dare to Lead training?”
That question changed everything.
Leadership Isn’t About Titles
Here’s the thing: leadership is not a title. A leader is anyone who influences other people. If people come to you for advice, ask your opinion, call you when they’re struggling, or look to you for guidance — you’re already leading, whether you call yourself a leader or not.
Parents, partners, friends, siblings, community members, and colleagues all influence the people around them. Leadership is about how we show up, how we communicate, how we make decisions, and how our actions impact others.
That’s why the title Dare to Lead can feel intimidating or exclusive. But when you look beyond the name, you find essential human skills that affect every part of life—not just work.
Why So Many People Hesitate to Take This Workshop
In my years of teaching this workshop, I’ve noticed a pattern. Many people hesitate to sign up because they think everyone else in the room will know more than they do or have more experience. They worry they won’t belong. They worry they’ll be exposed.
They think:
Everyone else has it together
Everyone else already knows what they’re doing
I’ll be behind
I’ll be judged
But what actually happens is the opposite.
Once people are in the room, the intimidation factor disappears quickly. Everyone realizes they’re asking the same questions, struggling with the same issues, and navigating the same uncertainty. Strangers suddenly have names, faces, and stories — and the sense of isolation fades.
Very Few CEOs Will Ever Do This Work
In my experience, very few CEOs or executives choose to do this work. There’s often an assumption that once you reach a certain level, you should already know how to lead. You should already have the answers.
When leaders don’t feel like natural leaders, they often try to fake it until they make it. They hustle for their worth. They overwork. They get defensive when questioned. They’re terrified someone will find out they don’t actually know what they’re doing all the time.
This creates a vicious cycle that leads to burnout for leaders and those around them.
Perfectionism, Burnout, and Mental Toughness
Much of this struggle stems from perfectionism. Perfectionism isn’t about being perfect — it’s about wanting to be loved, accepted, and seen as worthy. It stops people from taking risks, speaking honestly, and addressing problems directly.
The Dare to Lead curriculum is built on Brené Brown’s leadership research and earlier work:
I Thought It Was Just Me
The Gifts of Imperfection
Daring Greatly
Rising Strong
Together, these teachings show us that mistakes, uncertainty, and failure are part of being human. What matters is how we respond.
The research reveals that leaders need more mental toughness — they need courage. Not bravado. Not pretending to have all the answers. But the ability to tolerate discomfort, address hard conversations, and make decisions aligned with values.
Respect Over Being Liked
Leaders often ask me what to do when people don’t live up to their expectations. They mentor, train, say yes too often, listen to problems, and try to fix everything — yet nothing changes. Other people start noticing and complaining. Emotional energy gets drained.
The issue isn’t effort. It’s avoidance.
When leaders try to make everyone happy, no one is happy. But when leaders make the best choices they can with the information they have, they earn respect — even if they aren’t liked in the moment.
Great leaders communicate clearly. They address issues right away instead of letting them fester. They manage their own emotions. They act with integrity.
Psychological Safety and Trust
Great leaders care deeply about psychological safety. They create conditions in which people feel safe to speak up, offer feedback, and solve problems together. People feel like they belong. Their contributions are valued.
People are more important than profit. They’re treated fairly and compensated fairly.
Trust is not just a concept — it’s built (and broken) in small moments. And when trust is broken, it can be rebuilt if leaders take responsibility, address issues directly, and commit to doing better.
What You Learn in the Dare to Lead Workshop
In the Dare to Lead Certificate Workshop, participants:
Get clear on their values and how to use them to make decisions
Learn how to tolerate uncertainty and change
Develop grounded confidence where worth is never on the line
Build trust on teams and repair it when it’s broken
Address issues directly instead of avoiding discomfort
Learn how to reset quickly when things don’t go as planned
Life doesn’t go according to plan. Change happens. Things go sideways. The leaders who thrive are the ones who can reset quickly, stay grounded, and move forward with clarity.
Leaders Are Made
Leaders are not born. They're made. And leadership is a skill — and skills are teachable and measurable.
Everyone already has leadership strengths and everyone also has areas to improve. The workshop gives people language, tools, and awareness so they can lead with intention rather than reacting out of fear or perfectionism.
Why This Workshop Matters
People often tell me that while this work helps them professionally, it helps them even more at home. It improves relationships with partners, children, friends, and family. It changes how they communicate, handle conflict, and see themselves.
This is why people say, “Everyone should be required to take this.”
The next Dare to Lead Certificate Workshop begins in April 2026. If you’re ready to develop the skills to lead with courage, integrity, and grounded confidence — this is the work.
Sign up for the next Dare to Lead workshop.
