Kristen Hadeed

Kristen Hadeed is an acclaimed author, speaker, entrepreneur, and widely sought-after corporate consultant. Her unique approach to leadership and cultural development has been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, TED Talks, and more. She’s the bestselling author of Permission To Screw Up, a book summarizing the lessons she learned while leading a student staffing agency at the University of Florida.

In Permission To Screw Up, Hadeed offers her readers four steps to lead boldly and own their failure. To help explain the principles she promotes, Hadeed explores her experiences leading her 600-person student organization, Student Maid. She shares a firsthand account of the ups and downs; the mistakes she made and the lessons she learned during her 5-year leadership journey.

The message of this book is a call to action to own our failures, remain accountable for our actions, and never be afraid of owning up to our mistakes. According to Hadeed, all leaders will make mistakes and it’s essential that they learn and grow through their errors in order to become better leaders.

Throughout this book, Hadeed shares her own anecdotes while outlining the four steps that all aspiring leaders must take:

1. Embrace vulnerability: Recognize your own shortcomings, learn to recognize when you or your team has made a mistake, and take responsibility - without getting defensive or making excuses.

2. Talk to the people around you: Take the time to build relationships with your team and listen to their unique perspectives.

3. Seek feedback: Ask questions to gain insight, gather data, and find out more about the current state of affairs.

4. Celebrate successes: Share experiences, learn from successes and failures, and create a sense of camaraderie amongst the team.

In Permission To Screw Up, Hadeed brings her readers on an inspirational journey and encourages them to take risks, push their boundaries and never be afraid of failure. She interlaces her own experiences with valuable advice, empowering individuals to see that mistakes don’t define them, but instead can be used as a tool for growth. Her unique method offers insight into unlocking perspective, and provides guidance to those who may be facing similar struggles.

Ultimately, Hadeed wants her readers to realize that failing, making mistakes, and being vulnerable aren’t weaknesses and that owning up to them can often lead to an overall better and richer life. Permission To Screw Up is an inspiring story, built on real-world experiences and is sure to leave readers with valuable tools and skills to become a better leader.