It is not the critic who counts not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. It’s time to show up, be seen, and lean in.Īs I said earlier, her work is greatly inspired by a quote from former U.S. You spend half your time at work, and not being vulnerable will eat you alive, warns Brown.

While there are many lessons throughout the documentary, the overwhelming insight from The Call to Courage can be summarised with five simple words:īrave leaders are never silent around hard things. It’s little wonder she commands such a powerful profile in 2021, with her name easily rolling off the tongue in the same breath as mega-star Oprah Winfrey. Her style is relatable yet powerful, giving us the sense that we know her intimately and that she sees us, with all our flaws, and is holding us accountable. 'You cannot take criticism or feedback from people who are not being brave with their lives.'īrown’s arresting documentary oscillates between funny, lighthearted, painfully personal, poignant, frank, and above all else, vulnerable. She further clarifies: it isn’t that being brave might lead to failure, it’s that being brave most certainly will lead to failure.įeedback and criticism should be sought from those who value you because of your imperfections and assume you're doing the best you can, while feedback from those unwilling to get into the arena, to be brave, to be vulnerable, isn’t worth a minute of your time. If your team isn’t willing to create a culture that’s vulnerable, it will become a team unable to create. Initially this may not seem relevant to good leadership, but according to Brown: If you are not in the arena getting your ass kicked on occasion because you were being brave, I am not interested in or open to your feedback about my work.

It’s having the courage to show up when you can’t control the outcome. Brown’s documentary brings home why for those trying to pursue a rich, honest and brave life, this just won’t cut it.Īfter stumbling across an inspiring quote from Theodore Roosevelt, three things became clear to Brown. So many of us go through life holding back, playing small and staying quiet, too afraid of falling down, making mistakes, losing face and being exposed. The fact that this was such a significant choice for an expert on vulnerability says a lot about how hard this process truly is. Fully committing to falling down this toxic rabbit hole, she began reading the hateful comments directed at her - ranging from quips about her appearance to death wishes - which served to only solidify this regret. In the aftermath, Brown had what she describes as the worst ‘vulnerability hangover’ imaginable.

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