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Writer's pictureClaire Brady

Books in Brief- "Permission to be Human" by Marybeth Hyland

Welcome to "Books in Brief" – your go-to hub for distilled wisdom from the world's leading minds in leadership and professional development. Understanding that your time is valuable, this series aims to provide quick and clear summaries of big ideas that you can easily digest during a brief pause in your busy day.


Whether you’re looking to inspire your team, streamline your operations, or enhance your strategic vision, these summaries are curated to bolster your leadership arsenal without overloading your schedule. Our aim is to provide you with key takeaways, actionable strategies, and thought-provoking concepts that are the essence of each book.


Welcome back to "Books in Brief", where leaders grow faster than their to-read lists.


This book was recommended to me by my friend and colleague Shelia Higgs Burkhalter, "Shiggs" to those of us who know and love her. This book was also on my spring reading list.

"Permission to Be Human: The Conscious Leader's Guide to Creating a Values-Driven Culture" by Marybeth Hyland is a guide for leaders aiming to create a values-driven culture in their workplace. It emphasizes the importance of crafting an environment where people feel valued, leading to a successful, sustainable organization. The book combines personal stories, research, and proven practices to inspire leaders to align their team's actions with their core values, thereby fostering a thriving, connected, and people-centered business environment.


“This is for anyone who has ever considered themselves to be the underdog, for caring too much about people in the workplace,” Hyland said. “For thinking that people’s feelings and their experience was really important to the reason why you’re coming together in the workplace.” (Maryland Daily Record)


Conscious leadership is an approach that emphasizes self-awareness, mindfulness, and the welfare of both the organization and its stakeholders. It involves leaders who are committed to their personal growth and who act with a deep sense of responsibility towards their team's development and the broader impact of their decisions. Conscious leaders aim to create a positive and inclusive culture, encourage open communication, and lead with empathy and integrity, ensuring that their actions align with their values and contribute to the greater good.


“Living your values doesn’t happen by chance,” Hyland writes. “It happens when choosing your values with integrity over and over again.” This book has a powerful values assessment that my clients come back to time and again. I also recommend this book for executives in transition, between organizations or roles. By addressing topics such as vulnerability, self-care, authentic connections, self-awareness, and resilience, "Permission to Be Human" can provide executives with a valuable framework for navigating the complexities and challenges that accompany career transitions. It can help them maintain a sense of balance, purpose, and well-being as they embark on new professional journeys.


Reflecting on "Permission to Be Human," consider these questions for your leadership team:


  1. How do our personal and organizational values align with the behaviors we encourage and demonstrate in our workplace?

  2. In what ways can we more effectively integrate empathy and human-centered practices into our daily operations to enhance our culture?

  3. How can we create more opportunities for team members to express their values and see them reflected in our organization's actions?

  4. What strategies can we implement to ensure our leadership style authentically supports a values-driven culture?

  5. Reflect on a situation where aligning actions with your core values presented a challenge. How did you navigate this, and what did you learn?






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