Anchored, Aligned, Accountable: A Framework for Transcending Bullsh*t and Transforming Our Lives and Work

From one of our most visionary leadership coaches comes a bold new framework for successfully navigating complicated interactions at work, at home, and in all our relationships—featuring a foreword by Brené Brown.

“Drawing on her years of coaching experience, Bethea names what is often left unspoken in our workplaces: the dynamics of power, identity, and accountability that shape our relationships.”—Prentis Hemphill, bestselling author of What It Takes to Heal

We’ve all had them—awkward interactions at work that could have gone differently, misunderstandings at home that led to avoidable blowups. But what if those uncomfortable moments could become opportunities for personal transformation?

Renowned leadership coach Aiko Bethea gives us an innovative and road-tested framework for learning to show up in any situation authentically and not as the people-pleasing or conflict-avoidant versions of ourselves that have become second nature to so many of us.

The framework lays out how to successfully navigate moments of conflict: first we must be anchored in our values and purpose, then our actions and principles must be aligned, and finally we must be accountable for our impact. With these three steps, we can remake ourselves and our connections with others, fostering constructive dialogue and creating opportunities for growth.

Throughout the book, Bethea draws on decades of real-life experience to show us the many forms that these scenarios can take, offering practical advice to help us lead from our most genuine selves and deepen relationships in every part of our lives. In doing so, she shows us how to transcend the bullshit we constantly encounter and meet each new day grounded in truth, connected to our values, and in control of not just what we do but who we become.

Aiko Bethea has held executive roles in government, philanthropic, nonprofit, and private sectors, including the City of Atlanta and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She oversaw the development of leadership strategies for the Brene Brown Education and Research Group, which she continues to support. Bethea is the founder of RARE Coaching & Consulting, which provides leadership development to Fortune 100 leaders and global nonprofits. Recognized by Forbes and CultureAmp as a top anti-racism educator, her work has been published in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and the NYT Best Selling anthology, You Are Your Best Thing. She holds a law degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and a bachelor's from Smith College.