7 Ways Brené Brown Can Teach You How to Be Brave (As A Filmmaker Leading Your Team)

Updated: Jan 29, 2023

Film sets are stressful. But they don’t have to be.

Here are 7 ways Brené Brown can teach you how to be brave (as a filmmaker leading your team):

1. Set boundaries to maintain healthy relationships.

Make clear:

what is acceptable
what is not
and why

Communicate your needs and expectations to your crew. Listen to theirs.

Setting boundaries is about creating a safe, productive environment for everyone.

2. Be reliable, dependable and keep your word.

Stay aware of your competencies and limitations:

Don’t overpromise.
Deliver on your commitments.
Learn to balance your competing priorities.

Make sure that your team can count on you to be there for them.

3. Be accountable.

Own your mistakes and make amends.

When things don’t go as planned in the production:

take responsibility for your actions, &
work to fix the problem.

Accountability is not about blame. Instead, it’s about learning and growing from your mistakes.

4. Grow your vault.

Become a safe space to share. Keep confidences. Don’t share information that is not yours to share.

And…

Trust that your team will keep your ideas and experiences confidential.

The balance goes both ways.

5. Build integrity.

Choose courage over comfort. Do what is right, even when it’s not easy.

Stay true to your values. Don’t compromise for a quick and easy solution.

Stand up for what you believe in, and make sure that your film reflects that (i.e. accurate representation).

6. Hold yourself in nonjudgment

Foster an environment on set where your team can express their opinions and ideas freely without the fear of being judged or rejected.

Ask for what you need as well.

Create a space where everyone can feel heard and respected.

7. Extending the most generous version of yourself (and to others’ intentions, words, and actions).

Be open to feedback. Take the time to understand where your team is coming from.

Acknowledge their contributions.

Create a culture of kindness and compassion on your film set.

TL;DR • Set boundaries • Be reliable • Be accountabile • Grow your vault • Build integrity • Hold yourself in nonjudgment • Extend a generous you Explore Dr. Brown’s BRAVING exercise with you friend, partner, or crew. Dare to Lead The BRAVING Inventory We use this inventory in a similar way to how we talk about values. Each person fills it out independently, then meets…brenebrown.com

By embracing this version of yourself, you can create a more positive and productive environment on your film set. And, become a more confident and courageous filmmaker.

Remember, being brave doesn’t mean that you won’t be scared, it just means that you’ll do it anyway.

So, next time you’re on set, take a deep breath and remember, you’ve got this!