What’s it called?
Strong Ground: Lessons from Daring Leadership, The Tenacity of Paradox, and The Wisdom of the Human Spirit
Where’s the name from?
Well seeing the title is almost book length, everywhere. But Strong Ground is a thing from her Pickleball coach about her physical training and needing to plant yourself firmly to do some things, including life. Its not a bad image, just so, so middle class in its origins. Dare to Lead is her leadership programme and podcast.
Why should you give it a read?
Brown is fascinating. Friends of mine talked about her work so I thought I’d pick it up and give this one a whirl. I’d seen her Ted Talks and heard podcasts. I particularly like her work on shame, which speaks to us here in Aotearoa in unique ways I think (see below). As a book this one is ok, if you can get past the Americanisms and the sheer caucasity of the thinking underpinning it. It’s also pretty corporate focused, which is fine, but again does that Pākehā thing of assuming universality around values and also not having a whakapapa to terms. When we say Tūrangawaewae, we are talking about ancestral ground on which we can stand and speak, and a term our ancestors passed to us. When she says Strong Ground she’s talking about a concept she’s just thought up. Such is often the thinking in the Western World, with little regard to their own whakapapa. Surely Shakespeare had something to say about this in his works, for example.
Is It banter and filler or does it get right into the Kaupapa?
It’s an interesting mix of a book. Some of the content is from podcast guests she has hosted, and some is her latest stuff. In doing this it’s a bit messy to be honest.
Check this out
There’s some interesting stuff about living with paradox in our lives – important in our increasingly black and white views of everything
Which leader would have written this?
Many Labour politicians – strong beliefs that follow the wind…
Does it make you wanna ka whawhai tonu?
Kind of in a sad way. Brown had lots to say during the peak of Black Lives Matter about racism, and some really good stuff about white people’s shame in the face of such powerful truths. This is really useful stuff for us here in Aotearoa, as Pākehā grapple with their past and how it has created this unjust present. She was a bit of a champion from her privileged perch. It is noticeable how this book and the kōrero surrounding it is so anodyne. It’s corporate blah. And that’s fine if that’s what you’re after. But Brown has some powerful stuff to say, and it looks like she’s read the current American mood and decided now is not the time to be courageous. And seeing courage is at the heart of this book…
Bangin’ quote from the book
“Individuals and organizations are building new muscles. Finding our strong ground—that athletic stance—is the only thing that can provide both unwavering stability in a maelstrom of uncertainty and a platform for the fast, explosive change that the world is demanding.”
Where can I read/listen?
Any good bookstore or of course Amazon
Or have a listen to her speaking about it here:
https://brenebrown.com/podcast/finding-our-strong-ground-part-1-of-6/
