Brené Brown — Strong Ground
Sun Feb 08 2026
When everything feels uncertain, strong leaders don’t tighten their grip—they strengthen their foundation.
In Show 284, Mike and Mark unpack Brené Brown’s concept of Strong Ground and why clarity, values, and accountability matter more than ever. You’ll learn how courageous leaders navigate uncertainty, how the Playbacktechnique creates instant alignment, and why most teams struggle with communication in the first place.
If leadership feels harder right now, this episode offers a grounded path forward.
Strong Ground as the foundation for resilient leadership
Courage as a skill set, not a personality trait
Navigating uncertainty with clarity and values
Alignment before action
Communication built on discipline and accountability
Strong Ground vs. Inefficient MusclesBrené Brown’s metaphor highlights how leaders overuse urgency, control, or reassurance when they lack a stable core. Strong Ground provides the balance and strength needed to lead calmly under pressure.
The Four Skill Sets of CourageRevisiting Dare to Lead, courage is framed as a practice leaders can learn—enabling honest conversations, clear boundaries, and consistent accountability.
Diving Into UncertaintyAvoiding discomfort weakens leadership. This segment explores how grounded leaders move toward uncertainty with confidence and curiosity.
The Playback TechniquePlayback ensures absolute clarity before moving forward. By restating agreements, teams eliminate confusion and prevent misalignment.
Why We Suck at CommunicationCommunication failures stem from a lack of clarity, discipline, and accountability—not from a lack of effort or intelligence.
Strong Ground Check: Re-anchor decisions to values during change
Playback Before Action: Confirm shared understanding explicitly
Courage Practice: Treat bravery as a trainable skill
Clarity First: Slow conversations to speed execution
Accountability Loops: Define ownership and outcomes clearly
Get the book on Amazon https://geni.us/OMvekT
Recognize when you’re overcompensating instead of grounding yourself
Apply Brené Brown’s courage framework to real leadership challenges
Use Playback to eliminate confusion and build trust
Improve communication through clarity and discipline
Lead with steadiness, even when the environment is unstable
Expanded Concepts & InsightsKey ThemesConcepts & BreakthroughsHabits, Tools & Mental ModelsListener TakeawaysBecome a Member of the Moonshots Podcast:https://www.patreon.com/Moonshots
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When everything feels uncertain, strong leaders don’t tighten their grip—they strengthen their foundation. In Show 284, Mike and Mark unpack Brené Brown’s concept of Strong Ground and why clarity, values, and accountability matter more than ever. You’ll learn how courageous leaders navigate uncertainty, how the Playbacktechnique creates instant alignment, and why most teams struggle with communication in the first place. If leadership feels harder right now, this episode offers a grounded path forward. Strong Ground as the foundation for resilient leadership Courage as a skill set, not a personality trait Navigating uncertainty with clarity and values Alignment before action Communication built on discipline and accountability Strong Ground vs. Inefficient MusclesBrené Brown’s metaphor highlights how leaders overuse urgency, control, or reassurance when they lack a stable core. Strong Ground provides the balance and strength needed to lead calmly under pressure. The Four Skill Sets of CourageRevisiting Dare to Lead, courage is framed as a practice leaders can learn—enabling honest conversations, clear boundaries, and consistent accountability. Diving Into UncertaintyAvoiding discomfort weakens leadership. This segment explores how grounded leaders move toward uncertainty with confidence and curiosity. The Playback TechniquePlayback ensures absolute clarity before moving forward. By restating agreements, teams eliminate confusion and prevent misalignment. Why We Suck at CommunicationCommunication failures stem from a lack of clarity, discipline, and accountability—not from a lack of effort or intelligence. Strong Ground Check: Re-anchor decisions to values during change Playback Before Action: Confirm shared understanding explicitly Courage Practice: Treat bravery as a trainable skill Clarity First: Slow conversations to speed execution Accountability Loops: Define ownership and outcomes clearly Get the book on Amazon https://geni.us/OMvekT Recognize when you’re overcompensating instead of grounding yourself Apply Brené Brown’s courage framework to real leadership challenges Use Playback to eliminate confusion and build trust Improve communication through clarity and discipline Lead with steadiness, even when the environment is unstable Expanded Concepts & InsightsKey ThemesConcepts & BreakthroughsHabits, Tools & Mental ModelsListener TakeawaysBecome a Member of the Moonshots Podcast:https://www.patreon.com/Moonshots