What do you think?
Rate this book
Dare: Accepting the Challenge of Trusting Leadership
In the current business climate of distrust, cynicism, and fear, Scott Weiss offers a radical challenge to those of us who lead others. His call for authentic leadership means dropping the mask of the Executive Persona as well as the camouflage and doubletalk of traditional corporate communications. It demands an end to our self-deceptions and the deception of others in the name of business as usual. Those who are brave enough to accept his DARE will discover...•More loyal, satisfied clients and customers•Reduced turnover and more•engaged employees•A more creative, innovative, and collaborative workplace•Less personal conflict and more genuine relationships•The passion to thrive, not just survive, in our professionsA courageous book that calls on leaders themselves to step up and make the changes that will rebuild trust and restore business integrity for customers, employees, and the global public.
165 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
About the author
Scott Weiss
1 book1 followerScott Weiss centers his life around delivering and driving authentic communication.
From its three offices in Atlanta, New York, and San Francisco, his company, Speakeasy (www.SpeakeasyInc.com), works each year with some 4,500 executives and 350 client companies across five continents.
In addition to speaking engagements with audiences as unique as an international delegation of educators at the Carter Center in Atlanta, many organizations frequently turn to Scott for perspective on issues around trust in leadership. He has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, Inc., CNN Money, and Investor's Business Daily.
Weiss started his career on Wall Street and later moved to Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner), where he spent ten years as an executive vice president in charge of domestic satellite distribution for CNN, TNT and all Turner networks. He founded and directed Turner Private Networks, where he pioneered the creation and launch of the CNN Airport Channel in forty airports worldwide.
Scott serves on the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Emory University's board of visitors, and on the board of the Atlanta chapter of Entrepreneurs' Organization. He is the founder and chairman emeritus of the T. Howard Foundation, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit that for the past twenty years has been driving diversity in the media industry through its highly respected mentoring and intern program. He has been a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and voted in the Emmys for more than two decades.
Weiss lives with his wife of twenty-seven years, Marci, outside Atlanta, Georgia, and is the father of three adult children.
You can catch up with Scott anytime on Twitter (@ScottSpeakeasy) and find out more about his company, Speakeasy, at www.SpeakeasyInc.com.
From its three offices in Atlanta, New York, and San Francisco, his company, Speakeasy (www.SpeakeasyInc.com), works each year with some 4,500 executives and 350 client companies across five continents.
In addition to speaking engagements with audiences as unique as an international delegation of educators at the Carter Center in Atlanta, many organizations frequently turn to Scott for perspective on issues around trust in leadership. He has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, Inc., CNN Money, and Investor's Business Daily.
Weiss started his career on Wall Street and later moved to Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner), where he spent ten years as an executive vice president in charge of domestic satellite distribution for CNN, TNT and all Turner networks. He founded and directed Turner Private Networks, where he pioneered the creation and launch of the CNN Airport Channel in forty airports worldwide.
Scott serves on the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Emory University's board of visitors, and on the board of the Atlanta chapter of Entrepreneurs' Organization. He is the founder and chairman emeritus of the T. Howard Foundation, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit that for the past twenty years has been driving diversity in the media industry through its highly respected mentoring and intern program. He has been a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and voted in the Emmys for more than two decades.
Weiss lives with his wife of twenty-seven years, Marci, outside Atlanta, Georgia, and is the father of three adult children.
You can catch up with Scott anytime on Twitter (@ScottSpeakeasy) and find out more about his company, Speakeasy, at www.SpeakeasyInc.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 15, 2026
Dare: Accepting the Challenge of Trusting Leadership is a compelling call for leaders to reject fear-based management and embrace a more authentic, trust-centered approach to leadership. Scott Weiss challenges the traditional corporate mindset that often prioritizes image over integrity and control over connection. Instead, he argues that organizations flourish when leaders are willing to be transparent, vulnerable, and intentional in building genuine relationships with employees, customers, and stakeholders. In an era where trust has become one of business's most valuable assets, his message is both timely and timeless.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its emphasis on authenticity. Weiss makes it clear that leadership is not about maintaining an executive persona or hiding behind corporate language—it is about earning trust through consistent actions and honest communication. He encourages leaders to move beyond performative leadership and cultivate workplaces where openness, accountability, and mutual respect become foundational values. His insights serve as a powerful reminder that people follow leaders they trust, not simply those who hold positions of authority.
Another standout feature is the book's focus on organizational culture. Weiss demonstrates that trust is not merely a personal leadership trait—it is a strategic advantage that directly influences employee engagement, collaboration, innovation, and customer loyalty. Organizations that prioritize trust create environments where people feel valued, empowered, and motivated to contribute their best work. The result is not only stronger performance but also healthier and more resilient workplace cultures.
The book also excels in challenging conventional business assumptions. Rather than accepting cynicism, fear, and disengagement as inevitable workplace realities, Weiss presents leadership as an opportunity to restore integrity and human connection. His practical insights encourage leaders to replace transactional relationships with meaningful partnerships that benefit individuals and organizations alike. This perspective is especially valuable in today's business environment, where employees increasingly seek purpose, authenticity, and psychological safety in the workplace.
Ultimately, Dare is much more than a leadership book. It is an invitation to lead courageously by choosing trust over fear and authenticity over appearances. Scott Weiss successfully combines leadership philosophy, organizational culture, and practical wisdom into a transformative resource that empowers leaders to create workplaces where people are inspired not only to perform—but to thrive.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its emphasis on authenticity. Weiss makes it clear that leadership is not about maintaining an executive persona or hiding behind corporate language—it is about earning trust through consistent actions and honest communication. He encourages leaders to move beyond performative leadership and cultivate workplaces where openness, accountability, and mutual respect become foundational values. His insights serve as a powerful reminder that people follow leaders they trust, not simply those who hold positions of authority.
Another standout feature is the book's focus on organizational culture. Weiss demonstrates that trust is not merely a personal leadership trait—it is a strategic advantage that directly influences employee engagement, collaboration, innovation, and customer loyalty. Organizations that prioritize trust create environments where people feel valued, empowered, and motivated to contribute their best work. The result is not only stronger performance but also healthier and more resilient workplace cultures.
The book also excels in challenging conventional business assumptions. Rather than accepting cynicism, fear, and disengagement as inevitable workplace realities, Weiss presents leadership as an opportunity to restore integrity and human connection. His practical insights encourage leaders to replace transactional relationships with meaningful partnerships that benefit individuals and organizations alike. This perspective is especially valuable in today's business environment, where employees increasingly seek purpose, authenticity, and psychological safety in the workplace.
Ultimately, Dare is much more than a leadership book. It is an invitation to lead courageously by choosing trust over fear and authenticity over appearances. Scott Weiss successfully combines leadership philosophy, organizational culture, and practical wisdom into a transformative resource that empowers leaders to create workplaces where people are inspired not only to perform—but to thrive.
August 31, 2018
Dare: Accepting the Challenge of Trusting Leadership by Scott Weiss challenges the status quo that is current in business today. Weiss asserts that leaders in business must change the way they do things in order to fully impact business for the better. While not a strict how to book, Weiss lays out strategies and a way of thinking that can radically change how business is done, how relationships are forged in the workplace, and how trust has a way of working to one's benefit. All of this in turn will lead to more customers, and more satisfied customers, reduced employee turnover, and happier employees, along with a more creative and adaptive workplace. Lofty goals indeed, but Weiss makes these notions seem doable. Overall, the key to success in business is communication, which starts at the top, and works its way down. How effective and clear this communication is matters most in every day business. Highly recommend this engaging and worthwhile business strategy book.
October 1, 2018
Dare: Accepting the Challenge of Trusting Leadership by Scott Weiss challenges the status quo that is current in business today. Weiss asserts that leaders in business must change the way they do things in order to fully impact business for the better. While not a strict how to book, Weiss lays out strategies and a way of thinking that can radically change how business is done, how relationships are forged in the workplace, and how trust has a way of working to one's benefit. All of this in turn will lead to more customers, and more satisfied customers, reduced employee turnover, and happier employees, along with a more creative and adaptive workplace. Lofty goals indeed, but Weiss makes these notions seem doable. Overall, the key to success in business is communication, which starts at the top, and works its way down. How effective and clear this communication is matters most in every day business. Highly recommend this engaging and worthwhile business strategy book.
September 27, 2018
'Dare' by Scott Weiss will serve as a useful book for any business leaders who are unsure of how to lead their staff in a society where distrusting those with authority is the norm. Weiss stresses that this distrust can have a massive impact on businesses if it is not addressed directly and quickly. He advocates transparency from leaders to dispel the distrust that so many workers feel towards their employers. Honesty is key in today's society and Weiss shows how true this is with real-life examples of business leaders who have adopted a transparent management strategy and the benefits of doing so. 'Dare' shows that a more ethical and honest approach to business leadership can make an operation run so more smoothly and efficiently. Perhaps the idea is simple, but in a world where there is so much dishonesty and distrust, it could be revolutionary.
August 27, 2018
Scott Weiss really goes against the typical employee/employer “us vs. Them" and challenges the current climate in most office spaces. Weiss works to encourage leaders to be themselves, to embrace the foundation that makes them leaders.
A huge key point in this book is communication, a shortcoming that many employers share. It’s not always intentional, but it is often the rust on polished steel. Open and honest communications from the top down can help foster healthy employee-management relations and company growth.
This is definitely a book to read for any manager or member of support staff.
A huge key point in this book is communication, a shortcoming that many employers share. It’s not always intentional, but it is often the rust on polished steel. Open and honest communications from the top down can help foster healthy employee-management relations and company growth.
This is definitely a book to read for any manager or member of support staff.
April 16, 2014
Received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Well, overall I like that this book had a clear main message when it came to communication in the business world: be transparent. The book is about how to be a better BUSINESS leader. I stress the word business because it is not written for people who want to become leaders. This book is for people who are in leader positions and how to improve their communication skills with their employes or peers. This is NOT a how to book.
This book talks about why being a transparents honest speaker with your co-worker will improve your business. Overall great book to read, probability a bit idealistic but educational.
Well, overall I like that this book had a clear main message when it came to communication in the business world: be transparent. The book is about how to be a better BUSINESS leader. I stress the word business because it is not written for people who want to become leaders. This book is for people who are in leader positions and how to improve their communication skills with their employes or peers. This is NOT a how to book.
This book talks about why being a transparents honest speaker with your co-worker will improve your business. Overall great book to read, probability a bit idealistic but educational.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews