Is there room for vulnerability at the workplace?
I have a confession to make. I am a self-help book junkie. Roll your eyes all you want, that's me. I am almost obsessed with improving myself and however, "lame" that may sound, I am really proud of this.
I am currently reading about Brene Brown and her work around vulnerability and shame and it got me thinking - I get how being vulnerable can be great in your relationships and essentially behind closed doors at home, but vulnerability at work could probably kill your career, right?
It's amazing how uncomfortable this one word can make us. Vulnerable. And yet, the paradox of it all is that vulnerability is the fount of empowerment and growth. Here's why I say yes to being vulnerable at work:
- Being vulnerable allows you to learn: I see people around me at work who seem so strong. They are decent at what they do, but I've also seen them do the same things, the same way for the last 3 years. They have strong reactions to getting feedback and over a period of time, no one gives them any. End result, you are where you were three years ago. Reason, you don't want to say to yourself, maybe I have no idea what I am doing.
- Vulnerability helps you gain trust: We all have an idea of strength and leadership in our heads. A leader mustn't look worried. A leader must be in charge at all times. A leader is actually a superhero in disguise. And yet, in all my years I have been inspired by leaders and mentors who were great at what they do, against all odds. I have followed leaders who I could trust not robots who were efficient.
- Build real relationships: The foundation of all real relationships is vulnerability. Team-building, networking - these are all forced activities that one must be part of to tick the right boxes. But being vulnerable allows us to create something at a deeper level. Working as a team requires trust, building worthwhile relationships with your mentors and juniors takes away the stress of "networking" and allows you to actually connect with people.
- Creativity and innovation: Imperfection and vulnerability implies that you will make mistakes. You will fail and accepting failure makes room for creativity and innovation. Vulnerability isn't a show of weakness or self doubt. It is a strength. It means opening your heart and mind to new ideas and beliefs.
So can vulnerability at work be empowering? Can it open your mind and heart to new possibilities and ideas? Can it allow you to truly connect with your team and build a safer environment? Tell me what you think.
Sales & Business Development Head at Tarot with Vaishnavi
5 年I've just started out on my writing journey and it is difficult to take feedback from a collegaue who's at the same level as I am, because of the idea of authority and responsibility we all have in our heads. Plus creative writers have differing thoughts and opinions which means being on the same page as others is rare. But, after reading your article, I've learnt that if we aren't vulnerable, we will stay where we are and this will eventually stunt our career. Thanks for writing this. :)
Educator-Entrepreneur, Empowering Aspirants
6 年Good post ???? It kind of relates to two contrasts when we see someone vulnerable yet @ the work place - ‘ If I can do it, you can do it too’. ‘ If she can show her vulnerable self & still get the jobs done - I can also go easy on myself. ‘ We are all hard on ourselves. I have seen some people do that on purpose - show their vulnerable self to gain sympathy & go ahead.
Building a Lego house with my 4 year old+ Host of the Coffee By Two Podcast + late bloomer + Neurodivergent
6 年Really nice piece and a very valid one at that. Though showing vulnerability is frowned down upon in most quarters, it actually aids communication as it lays threadbare the fact that everyone has their fears and weaknesses. The most broken cultures are those where people are expected to not express their fears and vulnerabilities.?
Scientist | Cancer & Infection Immunology | Writer | Community Builder | Mentor -iGEM, TKS | Curious- Innovation & Funding Mechanisms.
6 年It depends ds on the team and the boss. But honestly I haven't seen a workplace where both are supportive and hence you can be vulnerable.
Co-Founder - Frob - Friends of Books
6 年Natasha Puri , you must try Go Giver by rob burg and just after that Give and Take by Adam Grant . The steps to being a giver and how despite being a giver you manage your worth is amazingly established in the two books. Read them in sequence . Glad you raised a valid question based on your readings from a book