Episode 10: Brené Brown and the Neuroscience of Vulnerability
- Georgina Brown (hershe)
- Aug 25
- 3 min read
Why Bravery Looks Like Feeling Everything at Work
Let’s get one thing clear: bravery isn’t bold. It’s tender.And leadership? It’s not about who talks the loudest—it’s about who’s willing to feel the most.
Enter: Brené Brown. Researcher. Storyteller. Straight-talking Texan.
She gave shame a name. Made vulnerability go viral. And turned phrases like “clear is kind” and “rumbling with discomfort” into workplace mantras.
For many of us at BARDO Inclusive, Brené wasn’t just a voice, we were raised professionally in the warm, honest glow of her research.
She gave us permission to drop the mask. To lead with heart. To make room for the messy middle.
Now, we’re revisiting her work through a neuroscience-informed lens, and finding even deeper wisdom in it.
Because what Brené taught us about vulnerability, courage, and connection?It’s not just good leadership.
It’s good biology.
The Science Bit: Vulnerability Is a Nervous System Superpower
Brené defines vulnerability as “uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure.”In other words: the state of being human.
From a neuroscience perspective, vulnerability activates both our threat systems (hello, amygdala) and our connection systems (hello, social engagement network, aka the ventral vagus nerve).
The brain craves certainty. So when we’re asked to share honestly, admit a mistake, or speak up when we’re unsure?
Alarm bells ring.
We instinctively brace for shame, rejection, or failure.
But here’s the magic:
When safety is present—when a leader holds space with empathy and curiosity—our prefrontal cortex lights up.
We shift from defensiveness to reflection.From isolation to co-regulation.From fear to connection.
Vulnerability, done right, isn’t weakness. It’s a biologically intelligent act of trust-building.
As Brené says:“Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.”— and neuroscience wholeheartedly agrees.
How Brené Brown Supports the NIMM
In the Neuro-Inclusive Maturity Model (NIMM), Brené’s work is foundational. She brings depth and clarity to all five domains:
Neuroscience-Informed – mapping emotions to brain and body responses
Trust-Building – cultivating psychological safety as a practice, not a perk
System-Aware – identifying the armoured cultures that block inclusion
Bias-Disrupting – making space for emotional honesty about difference
Mindset-Shifting – turning shame into self-awareness and growth
Brené doesn’t let us off the hook with easy answers.She tells the truth about how hard it is to lead with courage—especially in systems built on performance, perfectionism, and power.
But she also tells us this:“You can’t get to courage without walking through vulnerability. Period.”
Real Inclusion Requires Emotional Exposure
We’re so used to workplace scripts:
“I’m fine.”
“Let’s stay professional.”
“Let’s circle back.”
But what inclusion really requires is emotional presence:
“I don’t know yet.”
“That was hard to hear.”
“Thank you for your honesty.”
When people feel seen, not smoothed over, that’s when culture changes.When difference is met with curiosity, not control, that’s when belonging blooms.
Brené doesn’t say “have no boundaries.”She says: “Strong back, soft front, wild heart.”
Leaders who can hold vulnerability without flinching create workplaces where people:
Speak up without fear
Share new ideas
Repair conflict
And yes—stay.
Because the #1 reason people leave?
They don’t feel safe enough to be real.
Try This: A Brené-Inspired Neuro-Nudge for Your Next Team Session
Before your next meeting, try this check-in:“What’s one thing you’re carrying into the room today?”
You go first. Set the tone. Keep it real.
When someone shares something tough, resist the urge to fix.Say: “Thank you. That was brave.”
Notice how the mood softens. How the space opens.That’s co-regulation in action. That’s culture, rewiring itself in real time.
Then try one of Brené’s power moves:
“What does support look like for you right now?”
Not “Here’s what you should do.”Not “Let me solve that for you.”Just presence, attention, choice.
Want More Brené? Start Here (or Revisit with New Eyes):
Daring Greatly – the blueprint for vulnerability as strength
The Gifts of Imperfection – essential reading for recovering perfectionists
Dare to Lead – her most workplace-relevant book, packed with practical tools
Her TED Talk on shame and vulnerability – a cultural reset
Unlocking Us (podcast) – intimate, wise, and relentlessly human
Reflect:
Where are you still armouring up at work?What’s the fear underneath—and what would happen if you named it?
How might your culture shift if leaders felt safe enough to say: “Me too.”?
Next Up in the Series:
Episode 11: Iain McGilchrist and The Divided Brain: What Inclusion Looks Like When Both Hemispheres Are In the Room
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