Why Vulnerability Has Become a Leadership Power For Workplaces

For so long, leadership has been associated with people who run businesses well or lead people through hard times. The best leaders were expected to have all the answers, project unwavering confidence, and never let anyone see them struggle. Strength was measured by how composed you appeared, not by how honest you would be with the people around you.

Today, we are seeing a change in the way real leadership looks. The best leaders are the ones who are willing to be human and actually show it. They admit when they don't know something, they acknowledge their mistakes, and they always ask for feedback on how they are acting. They create space for honest conversations instead of pretending everything is “under control”.

In this blog, we are going to take a look at why vulnerability has become a power that the best leaders use to make their workplaces and surroundings feel more real.

Taking a Look at What Vulnerability Really Means in Great Leaders

In a world that has become increasingly complex and uncertain, with so many facets of life and work, vulnerability is becoming one of the most powerful leadership skills in a person.

Depending on who you are, vulnerability and leadership together may seem odd. Many still associate vulnerability in a person as a sign of weakness or someone being too emotional. Vulnerability is not just about oversharing your personal struggles or abandoning your confidence. It is about having the courage to be authentic to those around you, even when there is risk involved.

Think about the leaders you have trusted most throughout your life and looked up to as inspirations. Chances are, you probably loved them because they were honest about the challenges they faced in life. They treated people with respect and dignity, and that goes a long way in everything in life.

When a leader says, "I don't know, but we'll figure it out together," that’s the best answer you could receive. Trust begins to grow between everyone around them. People feel respected, and they feel included.

The Effects of Vulnerability in the Workplace

Teams in the workplace perform better when people feel safe enough to contribute their ideas, to take risks, and speak honestly about their problems. When leaders are willing to acknowledge mistakes, they permit others to do the same. As a leader, you are able to create an environment where learning becomes possible.

Consider the difference between two managers as a comparison example. One insists on appearing perfect as if they can do no wrong. Every mistake is either forgotten about or blamed on someone else. Questions are viewed as challenges to authority and are not acceptable because you should just do the work and not question it for one second. Employees quickly learn that that is not the right way to do it.

The other manager openly discusses the lessons that are learned from their failures. They encourage feedback and welcome different perspectives. So in this case, which leader would you trust the most? Which leader would inspire you the most to keep working hard? The answer to those questions is obvious because people are naturally drawn to leaders like the second one.

Teams in the workplace are more engaged when they believe their leaders genuinely care about them and communicate openly. Vulnerability can be brought out in anyone if you try hard enough to recognize the great qualities it holds.

Perhaps one of the most influential voices on this topic is Brené Brown, a researcher, author, speaker, and podcast host. Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston and at the University of Texas at Austin. 15 years ago, she did a TED Talk on the “Power of Vulnerability", and the idea of human connection was at the forefront of this talk, which is pretty cool given the name of our organization. We recommend you give this TED Talk a watch!

Our Speakers Can Bring Vulnerability to You!

That idea resonates because most people have experienced it firsthand. That’s the biggest point of all of this! Everyone has experienced these circumstances before. That experience makes you feel more inclined to know that vulnerable leaders are the best.

The reality is that people do not need a perfect leader. They need leaders who can acknowledge uncertainty during challenging times, and guess what? We are currently in challenging times! More than ever, people are uncertain about their role in the workplace, with topics like the economy, job security, and AI affecting their work. Leaders who are confident enough to address these topics and also admit when they are wrong are the perfect combination.

And who better to speak on this than our very own speakers at Human Connection! All of them have the ability to speak on multiple topics, ranging from mental health to company culture, and much more. We recommend you read up on all our speakers and find ones that will give a great speech on the vulnerability that great leaders need. When you’re ready to schedule an event with them, give us a call, and we will be there to help!