993: Vulnerability in Leadership: Are You Armored or Daring? Leadership Tips

We all have gaps in our leadership skills and capabilities that can be tough to spot on our own. But once seen, we cannot unsee these gaps, and we know we must take responsibility for our own growth and development. In this episode, I'm digging into Brené Brown's framework of Armored Leadership versus Daring Leadership from her book Strong Ground, with the hope that you will be able to spot some of your gaps in your leadership habits. I break down the 11 aspects of armored leadership, those self-protective behaviors that feel like safety but actually keep us stuck, and explore what shifts when you choose daring leadership instead: vulnerability, authenticity, and real growth. We talk about what drives armored leadership in the first place, from scarcity mindset and social conditioning to past trauma, and how those patterns show up in organizational culture without us even realizing it. Then we flip the lens to daring leadership, where leading proactively and strategically rather than reactively becomes possible. We talk about values in leadership, the role of failure, and how building a belonging culture starts with the willingness to be vulnerable as a leader. This is leadership development that meets you where you actually are, for better or worse. This is an invitation to take an honest look at where armor and your need for self-protection are costing you. As I share in the episode, leadership is an act of service, and daring leadership asks you to show up fully, armor down, and lead from a place ot humility, curiosity, and authenticity. Links Mentioned: Hire Sara to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with Sara: Connect with Sara on LinkedIn: Watch Shameless Leadership episodes on YouTube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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993: Vulnerability in Leadership: Are You Armored or Daring? Leadership Tips is an episode from The Shameless Mom Academy by Sara Dean.

This episode is 26:12 long.

This episode was published on May 26, 2026.

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