Brené Brown’s Anatomy of Trust breaks trust down into seven clear, relatable behaviours – what she calls BRAVING: Boundaries, Reliability, Accountability, Vault (confidentiality), Integrity, Non-judgement, and Generosity. Rather than treating trust as a vague feeling, she gives us a practical framework to understand how it’s built (and broken) in everyday interactions. It’s a powerful reminder that trust is created in the small moments – how we listen, follow through, own our mistakes, and hold space for others.
For emerging leaders, this model is gold. It helps you build trust with your team in a grounded, intentional way. Leadership isn’t just about getting things done, it’s about creating relationships where people feel safe, seen, and respected. BRAVING gives you a shared language to talk about trust openly, reflect on your own leadership, and hold yourself and others to account with kindness and clarity. And when trust is strong, everything else – performance, innovation, and collaboration get stronger too.
