Overview
Strong Ground: The Lessons of Daring Leadership, the Tenacity of Paradox, and the Wisdom of the Human Spirit is Brené Brown’s urgent call to reimagine the essentials of courageous leadership. In a time when uncertainty runs deep and bluster, hubris, and even cruelty are increasingly framed as acceptable leadership, Brown delivers practical, actionable insights that illuminate the mindsets and skill sets essential to reclaiming focus and driving growth through connection, discipline, and accountability.
This 2025 release is the second book in Brown’s Dare to Lead series, building on the lessons from over 150,000 leaders in forty-five countries who have participated in the Dare to Lead global community of coaches and facilitators over the past six years. Brown argues that leadership starts with stability, self-awareness, and well-being, integrating psychology, social research, and real-world leadership experiences.
Key Takeaways
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Leadership / Self-Help / Business Psychology |
| Publication Date | September 2025 |
| Series | Dare to Lead series (Book 2) |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Core Premise | Finding stable ground as a leader through values clarity, paradox navigation, and human wisdom |
| Target Audience | Leaders, managers, coaches, change-makers, and anyone seeking courageous leadership |
| Key Concepts | Strong ground, values clarity, tenacity of paradox, emotional granularity, accountability |
| Research Base | 6 years of Dare to Lead training with 150,000+ leaders globally |
Book Structure
Introduction: Finding Strong Ground
- Establishes the metaphor of “strong ground” as the stable foundation leaders need
- Addresses the current leadership crisis and why traditional models are failing
- Sets up the framework for courageous leadership in uncertain times
Part One: The Foundation – Values and Self-Awareness
- Values clarity as the cornerstone of strong ground
- Understanding who we are and what matters most
- The connection between personal integrity and leadership effectiveness
- Practical exercises for identifying and operationalizing core values
Part Two: The Tenacity of Paradox
- Exploring leadership paradoxes that can’t be resolved, only navigated
- The tension between confidence and humility
- Balancing empathy with accountability
- Being both vulnerable and strong
- Speed versus thoughtfulness in decision-making
Part Three: Emotional Granularity and Connection
- The power of naming emotions with precision
- How emotional literacy shapes leadership effectiveness
- Building genuine connections in professional settings
- Moving through difficult emotions rather than avoiding them
Part Four: Discipline and Accountability
- The hard work of maintaining focus in chaotic times
- Setting boundaries while remaining open
- Clear expectations and compassionate accountability
- The courage to have difficult conversations
Part Five: The Wisdom of the Human Spirit
- Drawing on collective wisdom and shared experiences
- Stories from the Dare to Lead community
- Poetry and reflections on resilience
- Integrating lessons into sustainable practices
Conclusion: The Call to Leadership
- Synthesizing the principles of strong ground
- Practical next steps for implementation
- The ongoing journey of courageous leadership
Structure Style: The book weaves together research findings, personal narratives, poetry, practical exercises, and stories from thousands of leaders who have implemented Dare to Lead principles. Brown’s signature conversational yet authoritative tone makes complex psychological concepts accessible and actionable.
About the Author
Brené Brown’s books have been translated into more than 30 languages, and her titles include Atlas of the Heart, Dare to Lead, Braving the Wilderness, Rising Strong, Daring Greatly, and The Gifts of Imperfection. With Tarana Burke, she co-edited the best-selling anthology You Are Your Best Thing.
Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston, where she holds the Huffington Foundation Endowed Chair at the Graduate College of Social Work. She also holds the position of Professor of Practice in Management at the University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business.
Brown rose to international prominence after her 2010 TEDx Houston talk on vulnerability became one of the most-viewed TED talks in history, with over 60 million views. She has since become one of the most influential thought leaders on courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy.
Her research spans two decades and has fundamentally changed how organizations approach leadership development. She hosts two award-winning podcasts: Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead. Her 2019 Netflix special The Call to Courage brought her message to an even wider audience.
Brown’s unique ability to translate academic research into practical, relatable guidance has made her work essential reading for leaders across sectors, from Fortune 500 companies to non-profits, educational institutions, and government agencies.
Why This Book Resonates
Timely Response to Leadership Crisis: Published in an era of rapid change, polarization, and uncertainty, the book addresses the urgent need for a new kind of leadership that values humanity over hubris.
Evidence-Based Wisdom: Unlike purely theoretical leadership books, Strong Ground draws from real-world implementation with over 150,000 leaders, providing battle-tested strategies rather than untested theories.
Paradox as Framework: Brown’s embrace of paradox—acknowledging that leaders must hold contradictory truths simultaneously—offers a more nuanced and realistic approach than simplistic leadership formulas.
Values as Anchor: In a world of constant change, the book provides a method for leaders to find stability through clarity about their core values, offering an internal compass when external circumstances are chaotic.
Integration of Vulnerability and Strength: Brown continues to challenge the outdated notion that vulnerability is weakness, showing how it’s actually the foundation of courage, innovation, and authentic connection.
Practical Application: Every concept comes with actionable steps, making the book a working manual rather than just inspirational reading.
Emotional Intelligence Focus: The emphasis on emotional granularity and naming feelings gives leaders concrete tools for navigating the human dimensions of their work.
Community Validation: The lessons are enriched by stories from the global Dare to Lead community, demonstrating that these principles work across cultures, industries, and contexts.
Ideal Audience
- Current and Aspiring Leaders at all organizational levels seeking authentic leadership approaches
- Managers and Executives navigating change, uncertainty, or organizational transformation
- Coaches and Facilitators who guide others through leadership development
- Entrepreneurs and Founders building organizational cultures from the ground up
- HR and Learning & Development Professionals designing leadership programs
- Educators and Academic Leaders in schools, universities, and educational organizations
- Non-Profit Leaders balancing mission-driven work with organizational sustainability
- Anyone Who Loved Dare to Lead and wants to deepen their practice
- Teams and Organizations seeking a shared leadership language and framework
- People Feeling Overwhelmed by current events who need to find their grounding
- Readers of Brown’s Previous Work ready for the next evolution of her leadership thinking
- Those Seeking Connection between personal values and professional effectiveness
Memorable Quote
“Finding our strong ground—that stable foundation we stand on—is not about becoming invulnerable or impervious to change. It’s about knowing who we are and what matters most to us, so we can navigate uncertainty with clarity, courage, and connection.”
This quote encapsulates the book’s central premise: strength comes not from rigidity or invulnerability, but from the clarity and self-knowledge that allow us to remain flexible and authentic in the face of challenge.
Central Themes
| Theme | Exploration in the Book |
|---|---|
| Values Clarity | Brown emphasizes that knowing our two core values and operationalizing them daily creates the stable ground from which we can lead courageously, especially during times of uncertainty |
| The Tenacity of Paradox | Leadership requires holding contradictory truths simultaneously—being confident yet humble, empathetic yet accountable, vulnerable yet strong—without trying to resolve these tensions |
| Emotional Granularity | The ability to name emotions with precision rather than resorting to vague terms like “stressed” or “fine” enables leaders to understand and navigate feelings more effectively |
| Connection and Belonging | Authentic leadership builds genuine human connection through vulnerability, empathy, and the courage to be seen, creating workplaces where people can bring their whole selves |
| Accountability with Compassion | True accountability means having clear expectations and addressing issues directly while maintaining compassion and recognizing shared humanity |
| Discipline in Chaos | Maintaining focus, boundaries, and intentional practices in turbulent times requires discipline that comes from knowing what matters most |
| Courage Over Comfort | Courageous leadership means choosing what’s right over what’s comfortable, easy, or politically expedient, and being willing to have difficult conversations |
| The Wisdom of Collective Experience | Leadership lessons are enriched and validated by the stories and experiences of thousands of leaders worldwide who have implemented these practices |
| Stability Through Self-Awareness | Understanding ourselves—our triggers, patterns, strengths, and growing edges—creates the internal stability needed to lead through external instability |
| Integration of Spirit and Strategy | Effective leadership integrates the “soft” skills of emotional intelligence with the “hard” skills of strategy, accountability, and execution |
Key Concepts Explained
Strong Ground: The metaphor at the heart of the book refers to the stable foundation leaders create through values clarity, self-awareness, and emotional regulation. It’s not about being unmovable but about being grounded enough to remain authentic and effective during change and challenge.
Values Clarity: Brown teaches that we should identify our two core values—the principles that matter most to us—and operationalize them with specific behaviors. This clarity becomes a decision-making compass and authenticity checkpoint.
The Tenacity of Paradox: Rather than trying to resolve leadership paradoxes (which is impossible), Brown encourages leaders to develop the skill of holding tension between opposing truths. This creates sophistication in thinking and decision-making.
Emotional Granularity: Based on psychology research, this concept involves developing a sophisticated emotional vocabulary that allows us to name feelings precisely. When we can distinguish between anxiety, worry, stress, and overwhelm, we can better understand what we need.
Rumbling with Vulnerability: Brown’s term for leaning into discomfort, asking tough questions, having difficult conversations, and being willing to not have all the answers—all while staying engaged and curious.
Clear is Kind, Unclear is Unkind: One of Brown’s most popular principles emphasizes that withholding clear expectations, feedback, or information in the name of being “nice” is actually unkind and sets people up for failure.
Practical Applications
The book includes numerous practical tools and exercises:
- Values Identification Exercise: A process for narrowing down your core values to two that serve as your North Star
- Emotion Naming Practice: Expanding vocabulary to identify feelings with precision
- Paradox Navigation Framework: Questions to ask when facing competing priorities or tensions
- Accountability Conversations Template: Structure for having difficult conversations with clarity and compassion
- Grounding Practices: Specific techniques for returning to your strong ground when feeling reactive or overwhelmed
- Team Values Alignment: Process for teams to identify shared values and behavioral expectations
- Feedback Skills: Specific language and approaches for giving and receiving feedback effectively
FAQ
Q: Do I need to read Dare to Lead before this book? A: While not required, reading Dare to Lead first will provide helpful context. However, Strong Ground stands alone and includes necessary background information for new readers.
Q: Is this just for people in leadership positions? A: No. Brown defines leadership as anyone taking responsibility for finding potential in people and processes. Parents, teachers, community organizers, and individual contributors can all benefit from these principles.
Q: How is this different from Dare to Lead? A: Strong Ground builds on the foundation of Dare to Lead by adding six years of implementation learnings from thousands of leaders worldwide. It goes deeper into paradox, emotional granularity, and sustainability of courageous leadership practices.
Q: Is this book backed by research? A: Yes. Brown’s work is grounded in two decades of qualitative research, and this book specifically draws from analyzing the experiences of 150,000+ leaders who’ve completed Dare to Lead training.
Q: Can I use this with my team? A: Absolutely. Many concepts are designed for team application, and discussion questions throughout make it excellent for book clubs, team development, or leadership cohorts.
Q: How long does it take to implement these practices? A: Brown emphasizes this is ongoing work, not a quick fix. Some practices (like values clarification) can begin immediately, while others (like developing emotional granularity) unfold over time with practice.
Q: Does the book include stories and examples? A: Yes. Brown weaves in stories from the Dare to Lead community, her own experiences, and case studies from various organizations and sectors.
Critical Reception
Strong Ground has been well-received since its September 2025 release:
- New York Times Bestseller immediately upon publication
- Featured on major media outlets and leadership podcasts
- Widely adopted by organizational learning and development programs
- Praised for translating six years of implementation data into actionable insights
- Recognized for addressing the specific leadership challenges of the 2025 moment
- Continues to expand the global Dare to Lead movement
Early readers and reviewers particularly appreciate:
- The paradox framework as a sophisticated leadership tool
- Practical exercises that can be immediately implemented
- The integration of poetry and wisdom alongside research
- Honest acknowledgment of how difficult this work can be
- The hope and optimism balanced with realism
Integration with Brown’s Body of Work
Strong Ground represents an evolution in Brown’s thinking:
- The Gifts of Imperfection (2010): Introduced concepts of worthiness and wholehearted living
- Daring Greatly (2012): Explored vulnerability as courage
- Rising Strong (2015): Addressed resilience and getting back up after falling
- Braving the Wilderness (2017): Examined true belonging and standing alone when necessary
- Dare to Lead (2018): Applied vulnerability research to organizational leadership
- Atlas of the Heart (2021): Mapped 87 emotions and experiences for greater emotional literacy
- Strong Ground (2025): Synthesizes leadership implementation learnings with emphasis on stability amid chaos
Each book builds on the previous work while standing alone, creating a comprehensive framework for courageous living and leading.
Final Thoughts
Strong Ground arrives at a critical moment when leaders across all sectors are grappling with unprecedented complexity, rapid change, and polarization. Brené Brown’s genius lies in her ability to make sophisticated psychological concepts accessible and actionable while maintaining academic rigor and research grounding.
What distinguishes this book from typical leadership literature is its refusal to offer simplistic solutions. Instead, Brown embraces the messy reality of leadership: the paradoxes that can’t be resolved, the emotions that can’t be avoided, the courage required to stay connected when it would be easier to disconnect. She offers not a formula but a framework—not a destination but a practice.
The concept of “strong ground” is both metaphorical and practical. It acknowledges that in times of uncertainty, we can’t control external circumstances, but we can know ourselves deeply enough to maintain integrity and effectiveness regardless of what swirls around us. This internal stability, built on values clarity and self-awareness, becomes the foundation for courageous action.
The book’s emphasis on paradox is particularly valuable. By teaching leaders to hold tension rather than resolve it—to be simultaneously confident and humble, vulnerable and strong, empathetic and accountable—Brown equips readers with the cognitive flexibility required for complex leadership challenges.
Perhaps most importantly, Strong Ground is hopeful without being naive. Brown acknowledges the difficulty of this work while insisting it’s possible and worth doing. The stories from thousands of Dare to Lead participants demonstrate that these principles work in real workplaces with real humans facing real challenges.
For leaders feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or unclear about how to lead in these times, Strong Ground offers both compass and community. It’s a book to return to repeatedly, not just to read but to practice, to share with teams, and to use as a touchstone when the ground beneath us feels unstable.
Rating Snapshot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
- Research Foundation: 5/5 – Decades of research plus 6 years of implementation data
- Practical Application: 5/5 – Immediately actionable with clear exercises and tools
- Originality: 5/5 – Paradox framework offers fresh perspective on leadership
- Writing Quality: 5/5 – Accessible, engaging, blends multiple genres effectively
- Relevance: 5/5 – Addresses urgent current leadership challenges
- Long-term Value: 5/5 – A reference book to return to repeatedly
Companion Resources
Dare to Lead™ Program: The certified training program that forms the foundation for the book’s insights Brené Brown Podcast: Dare to Lead and Unlocking Us episodes expand on book themes Atlas of the Heart: Companion text on emotional literacy that enhances Strong Ground concepts Workbooks and Journals: Official companion materials for deeper practice Online Community: Global network of Dare to Lead facilitators and participants
Links
Author’s Website: brenebrown.com
Book Page: brenebrown.com/book/strong-ground
Podcast Series: Finding Our Strong Ground podcast episodes
