Showing vulnerability takes courage, but it’s also one of the most powerful ways to connect with people and gain their trust. When your team sees you are human and vulnerable, they identify with you and can see the leadership potential in themselves.
When you show your vulnerability, you give others permission to be authentic and admit their mistakes. You can create a culture where mistakes are seen as a key step in learning, and the blame game will stop. People will trust that their vulnerabilities won’t be used against them, and they will ask for help when they need it.
Vulnerability and weakness are not the same. Weakness is avoiding confrontation, being ineffective and uninspired. Vulnerability brings people together and inspires trust and performance. It doesn’t mean you don’t make tough decisions, it simply means you’re not afraid to admit when you’re wrong or when you’ve made a mistake. It actually takes incredible strength to be vulnerable.
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP ACTION PLAN:
How will you develop the courage and strength to show your vulnerability?
What can you do to encourage others to learn from their mistakes?
“The hardest thing about being a leader is demonstrating or showing vulnerability. And that has a lot to do with trust…. When the leader demonstrates vulnerability and sensibility and brings people together, the team wins.”
~ Howard Schultz
