What is it?

This practical, research-based workshop helps teams understand and apply the core behaviours that build trust, strengthen relationships, and support honest, values-driven communication.

Why is it useful?

This workshop helps your team build the trust, self-awareness, and communication skills needed to work with more clarity, courage, and connection.

Objectives

• Increase self-awareness around behaviours that build or block trust
• Understand and apply the BRAVING framework in team interactions
• Practise giving and receiving honest, respectful feedback
• Build confidence in having courageous, values-driven conversations
• Commit to personal actions that strengthen trust and connection in the team

Resources Required

• Time: 2 hours
• Number of People: 4-20
• Flipchart or whiteboard
• Markers
• Sticky notes
• Printed copies of the BRAVING acronym (1 per person)
• Timer or phone stopwatch
• Name badges (if group members don’t know each other well)

Process

Welcome & Context Setting (15 minutes)

1. Facilitator introduces the theme:“This session is about how trust and courage shape great teams. It’s based on the work of Brené Brown, who defines vulnerability not as weakness—but as the heart of brave leadership.”
2. Ask the group:
   • “When you hear the word vulnerability, what comes to mind?”
   • Write key phrases on a flipchart.
3. Share this quote:“You can’t get to courage without walking through vulnerability.”Let the group sit with that. Then briefly outline the flow of the session.

Leadership Armour Self-Reflection (20 minutes)

1. Explain: “In the workplace, we all put on ‘armour’—habits that protect us but also limit connection.”
2. Examples:
   • Perfectionism
   • Avoiding conflict
   • Defensiveness
   • Need to be right
   • Withholding feedback
   • Appearing busy to avoid being asked for help
3. Prompt: “Think about a recent moment at work when you felt unsure, exposed or frustrated. What kind of armour did you use?”
4. Give 3–5 mins for silent reflection. Then:
   • Ask them to write down 1–2 examples of their ‘armour’ on sticky notes (no names).
   • Stick them on a board titled "What We’re Letting Go".
5. Group Debrief:
   • Read a few aloud. Normalise and thank the group for their honesty.
   • Ask: “How does this armour affect trust in the team?”

BRAVING Trust Framework (30 minutes)

1. Introduce BRAVING acronym (handout)
2. Activity (pairs or trios): “Which BRAVING element do you personally find easiest? Which is hardest—and why?”
3. Give 10–15 mins for discussion. Then debrief as a full group:
   • “What came up in your conversations?”
   • “What do we do well as a team? What’s missing?”
4. Capture responses on a flip-chart titled "Trust in Our Team".

Courageous Conversations Practice (30 minutes)

1. Introduce the concept: “Courageous conversations happen when we say what needs to be said—with kindness, clarity and respect.”
2. Model a sentence starter:
   • “I need to talk about something that’s uncomfortable for me…”
   • “I noticed something that’s affecting our work, and I want to understand it better…”
3. Scenario Practice (in trios):
   • One person plays the feedback giver
   • One plays the receiver
   • One is the observer

Personal Commitments (15 minutes)

1. Ask each person to reflect silently:
   • “What’s one piece of armour I’m ready to take off?”
   • “What’s one BRAVING behaviour I want to strengthen?”
2. Then ask them to write down two statements:
   • “I will stop…”
   • “I will start…”
3. Invite each person to share their two statements aloud (optional but encouraged).

Closing and Appreciation (10 minutes)

1. Wrap up with appreciation: “This kind of work takes courage. Thank you for being open and showing up.”
2. Final reflection questions (open floor): “What stood out to you today?”“What would shift in our team if we made this a regular practice?”