Vulnerability

There is nothing wrong with being vulnerable even as a leader. This gives everyone permission to be human, and then to take risk that might result in failure. Ultimately, this enables an innovative work environment!

Transcript

Crying has been a sign of vulnerability and weakness, and ultimately it could directly impact your future career path. Women especially were told for years to be as tough as men (or tougher) in the business & tech world. But another way to be authentic & true to yourself is to allow for just such vulnerability. Everyone has weaknesses, we aren’t perfect. How does this translate at work? Its ok for instance to share that you are struggling with a task & ask for help. Isnt it better to get the help sooner rather than later so the project doesn’t suffer? If you fear asking for help in your current role with your current team may I suggest working with someone outside your direct management structure – such as a peer in another team or a mentor.

Another method to demonstrate vulnerability is to be honest and say out loud to your team that you don’t know something. How about when something goes wrong, take ownership of any mistake you have made! When you demonstrate to your team that you aren’t perfect, you give them space to also not be perfectionist. We are human after all! And when you tell a customer that you don’t know something but you will find out, your vulnerability appears as honesty, and directly develops more trust with the customer. Just be sure to actually followup and get the answer to the customer later.

And in corporate cultures where failure & vulnerability are accepted, the team can take more risks and truly innovate solutions to benefit the customer, the company and the employee.

Thanks for joining me today, until next time stay safe everyone!