Cultivate self-trust with BRAVING practices

When Priya became the new director at a tech startup, her biggest challenge wasn’t the code or budget—it was trust, particularly self-trust. Every day she overpromised on delivery dates and then scrambled to meet them. Her shoulders tensed, her emails grew curt, and she felt trapped by her own guarantees.

After reading about Brené Brown’s BRAVING model, she chose one: reliability. That Friday, she vowed to deliver a client proposal by 3 PM, no exceptions. She logged the date, the steps, and her anxiety in her notebook. At 2:50, she hit send—early. She felt a surprising rush of calm. That evening, over coffee that tasted like victory, she texted her mentor: “Goal met! Felt odd but awesome.”

Week two, she tested boundaries, declining a social invite that threatened her weekend recharge. Week three, she practiced accountability by emailing an overdue apology to a team member. Piece by piece, Priya rewired her brain: reliability bred confidence, which fueled courage.

Behavioral science shows that self-efficacy grows when we repeatedly meet small commitments. Priya’s journal became a living proof of competence

By month’s end, she not only trusted herself more but also inspired her team to adopt their own BRAVING challenges. Projects ran smoother, morale rose, and Priya led with a clear spine—proof that trusting yourself can reshape an entire organization.

Choose one BRAVING pillar to work on this week, set a clear goal, jot down each attempt and outcome, share your mini-wins with a friend, then next month rotate to a new skill. That rhythm will strengthen your self-trust muscle and transform how you lead.