Davis - Brave Leadership: Unleash Your Most Confident, Powerful, and Authentic Self to Get the Results You Need

I believe the secret sauce for tomorrows complex cultural challenges lies hidden in the emotional power of authentic, informed leadership. Davis explores how virtually any person can become a more authentic leader.

JON KATZENBACH, FOUNDER OF KATZENBACH CENTER AT PWC

Davis leaps past leadership jargon and gives readers actionable tools! What do I love about Brave Leadership? It is not your typical business book. Its a roadmap for the business of life.

VINCE POSCENTE, NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF THE AGE OF SPEED

Brave Leadership clearly describes and convincingly prescribes a solution to a hidden crisis holding back far too many people: fear. The stories will keep you turning the page; the practical guidance will make you glad you did. A thoughtful, useful addition to the leadership literature.

SCOTT ANTHONY, MANAGING PARTNER OF INNOSIGHT AND AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF INNOVATION AND SEEING WHATS NEXT (WITH CLAYTON CHRISTENSEN)

Kimberly Daviss perspective on leadership is both powerful and unusual. In addition, her prose is a delight... clear, hard hitting, personal, and authentic.

CHRIS TRIMBLE, INNOVATION EXPERT AND AUTHOR OF SIX BOOKS INCLUDING THE BEST-SELLING REVERSE INNOVATION: CREATE FAR FROM HOME, WIN EVERYWHERE

In these times, to be an effective leader, Brave Leadership is imperative. Fortunately, were guided expertly along this path by a fantastic mentor and teacher. This is a book for every potential and current leader to own, to study, and to review... often!

BOB BURG, COAUTHOR OF THE GO-GIVER AND THE GO-GIVER INFLUENCER

Its high time we redefined brave, particularly in the context of management and leadership. Kimberly Daviss Brave Leadership challenges outdated assumptions and offers fresh perspective for emerging leaders who want to be true not only to the people inspired to follow them but to themselves. Daviss book is an essential road map to the kind of self-discovery that helps develop strong, confident, authentic leaders.

DONNA FENN, AUTHOR OF UPSTARTS: HOW GENY ENTREPRENEURS ARE ROCKING THE WORLD OF BUSINESS

Brave Leadership is a book written about real leadership, the kind that is expressed through a shaky voice with sweaty palms and a tightened stomachlike everyday leadership, if we are honest about it. Kimberly Davis takes us on a journey through the emotional, psychological, and physiological sensations that hijack our best. Wrapped in the warm and compassionate hug of her own experience, she whispers her magic into our ears and then pushes us out on the stage with a gentle, You can do it. A must read for those who aspire to lead.

MIKE COOK, AUTHOR OF THRIVING IN THE MIDDLE

If you are looking for a way to become your authentic self, then look no further than this authentic author who shares her own story to encourage and allow you to become the person you choose to be. Kimberly gives practical examples, useful exercises, and solid suggestions to allow all of us to connect with our real self and to project this self in a manner that allows us to maximize our potential. Brave Leadership is worth the read and the practice.

JEFFREY C. BARNES OF PRINCIPAL JEFF BARNES CONSULTING, RETIRED FROM GE CROTONVILLE

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher and author are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Published by Greenleaf Book Group Press

Austin, Texas

www.gbgpress.com

Copyright 2018 Kimberly Davis

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the copyright holder.

Brave Leadership contains essays previously published on onstageleadership.com as well as new material.

Distributed by Greenleaf Book Group

For ordering information or special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Greenleaf Book Group at PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709, 512.891.6100.

Design and composition by Greenleaf Book Group

Illustrations by Thomas McKinney

Author photograph by Tim Sutton

Cover credit: Thinkstock.com/iStock Collection/foto-ruhrgebiet.

Cover design by Greenleaf Book Group and Kim Lance

For permission to reprint copyrighted material, grateful acknowledgment is given to the following sources:

BECAUSE OF YOU. Text Copyright 2005 by B.G. Hennessy. Illustrations Copyright 2005 by Hiroe Nakata. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Somerville, MA.

Let It Go from FROZEN

Music And Lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez

2013 Wonderland Music Company, Inc.

All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission

Reprinted by Permission of Hal Leonard LLC

Excerpt from THE OKAY BOOK. 1999 by Todd Parr. Reprinted with permission of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

Cataloging-in-Publication data is available.

Print ISBN: 978-1-62634-433-4

eBook ISBN: 978-1-62634-434-1

Part of the Tree Neutral program, which offsets the number of trees consumed in the production and printing of this book by taking proactive steps, such as planting trees in direct proportion to the number of trees used: www.treeneutral.com

Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper

17 18 19 20 21 22 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

First Edition

To Mom, Dad, Todd, and Tim; thank you for being
my greatest champions. And to my son, Jeremy;
may you always own your brave.

A hero is no braver than an ordinary man,
but he is brave five minutes longer.

RALPH WALDO EMERSON

CONTENTS

Introduction

Theres a saying in the world of training, development, and education that we teach what we need to learn. That is so true for me. I would love to tell you that after spending most of my adult life studying and obsessing about what it takes to be my real self powerfully in this worldwhat I call braveI have solved the great mystery and Im here to give it to you in a magic pill so that we can all be brave all the time. But, alas, thats not the case. What Ive learned is that brave is not an all-or-nothing thing. Its not like you have it or you dont. Or once you get it, youve always got it.

Brave unfolds one situation at a time.

And brave hasnt always come easy for me. I think thats why Ive been so obsessed with it. When I was a kid, it felt effortless. I spent my childhood on a ranch in northwest Montana, twirling about the pastures, singing to the cows at the top of my lungs. (I was weird, but I was fearless!) If I wanted to do something, I just did it. I didnt think much about repercussions. I sang the solos in choir, played the big roles in school plays, won state while competing on the speech team, and interned at our local news station. I put myself out there for anything I wanted without giving it a second thought. I felt completely free to be who I was and to express myself in the world. It felt easy to be me.

But when I went to college to study theater, things changed. I seemed to misplace my brave. It didnt feel safe to be vulnerable in class. It didnt feel safe to question and explore and try new things. It didnt feel safe to be me. What used to come with ease and grace became tight and unreliable. I stopped trusting myself.