Vulnerability is a Superpower for Leaders
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Vulnerability is a superpower for leaders.
It’s hard to believe this still needs to be said, but vulnerability is key to great leadership. There’s a lingering, old-school way that many leaders show up with a facade that they are perfect / know everything / are always right / are smart and capable and “so” impressive.
Let me be clear:
A lack of vulnerability isn’t admirable; it drives employees away.
Acknowledge your own, imperfect humanity.
Being vulnerable is the fastest way to build rapport, trust, and authentic connection when it comes to interacting with and leading a team of human beings. Putting on a false front that you’re infallible has the exact opposite effect.
Not showing vulnerability communicates insecurity and a fear of judgement or “looking bad.” It’s ego-driven, and it turns people off.
When you are a vulnerable person or leader, it creates trust because you are showing others that you are authentic and human, just like everyone else. People see vulnerability as honesty and transparency.
“When leaders model vulnerability with their teams, the result is to create a safe space for learning, being real and authentic, healthier communication, less conflict, receptiveness to feedback instead of defensiveness, and taking ownership of mistakes.”
So many benefits to the team.
When leaders model vulnerability with their teams, the result is to create a safe space for learning, being real and authentic, healthier communication, less conflict, receptiveness to feedback instead of defensiveness, and taking ownership of mistakes.
These attitude and dynamics are vital to healthy team culture.
Vulnerability is not weakness.
There’s a lot of strength in being able to say “I know that I’m not perfect, I’m open to feedback and want to learn and be better.”
“There’s a lot of strength in being able to say, ‘I know that I’m not perfect, I’m open to feedback and want to learn and be better.’”
Being vulnerable does not mean being overly emotional or oversharing inappropriate personal details with others. That is not what being vulnerable is about.
It just means showing up as you are, not pretending you are perfect, being willing to admit when you are wrong, being willing to apologize, and willing to hear feedback and improve.
Vulnerability is a deep understanding that we are all humans who are imperfectly showing up the best way we know how to on our teams.
Acknowledging this as a leader is an easy way to gain people’s trust and establish authenticity. It can transform elements of your culture by setting the tone for the team and building connection.
It is absolutely a superpower for leaders.
*In the event that you have lived under a rock up until now and are not familiar with Brene Brown, do yourself and favor and dive into her TED talks and work around vulnerability, it’s brilliant.
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This article was created by Galen Emanuele for the #culturedrop. Free leadership and team culture content in less than 5 minutes a week. Check out the rest of this month's content and subscribe to the Culture Drop at https://bit.ly/culturedrop
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