Vulnerability: The New Leadership Currency

What do you think about when you hear the word "vulnerability"?

For many of us, the term is linked to negativity: such as weaknesses, personal mistakes or professional danger, or feelings of fear, uncertainty and shame. This is a common misconception. Society has taught us that vulnerability is synonymous with weakness - but author Brene Brown says that it's just the opposite.

Vulnerability is the willingness to show up and be seen by others in the face of uncertain outcomes, especially in the organisation's context as a leader.

Traditionally, leadership has been synonymous with strength, confidence, and decisiveness. However, the landscape of work is changing rapidly, demanding a new breed of leaders who are not afraid to show their human side. Vulnerability, once seen as a weakness, is emerging as a powerful leadership tool.

Here's why:

Vulnerability: A Cornerstone of Trust

• Building Authentic Connections: In an era of remote work and virtual teams, genuine connections are crucial. Vulnerability fosters trust and creates a safe space for open communication.
• Encouraging Psychological Safety: When leaders demonstrate vulnerability, they create an environment where employees feel comfortable taking risks, sharing ideas, and admitting mistakes. Because they take the lead to show that they are not perfect.
• Empathy and Understanding: By being vulnerable, leaders show they understand the challenges faced by their team, fostering empathy and stronger relationships. In this case, it could mean leaders showing up and acknowledging their own experience.

The future of work is characterized by rapid change, increased complexity, and a greater emphasis on human connection. Vulnerability plays a pivotal role in navigating this evolving landscape:

• Leading Through Uncertainty: The future of work is inherently uncertain. Vulnerable leaders are better equipped to handle ambiguity and inspire their teams to embrace change. By openly acknowledging the challenges and unknowns, leaders can foster a culture of resilience and adaptability.
• Building High-Performing Teams: In increasingly diverse and distributed workforces, trust and collaboration are essential. Vulnerable leaders create a safe space for team members to share ideas, take risks, and support one another. This fosters a sense of belonging and drives innovation.
• Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: As technology continues to automate routine tasks, human-centric skills will become even more valuable. Vulnerable leaders possess the emotional intelligence to connect with employees on a deeper level, understand their needs, and support their growth.
• Ethical Leadership: The future of work demands ethical leadership. Vulnerable leaders are more likely to consider the impact of their decisions on employees, customers, and the community. They are also better equipped to address ethical dilemmas with transparency and integrity.

But here's the catch. You need to know when not to overshare.

A good rule of thumb for figuring out if you are sharing too much is to ask yourself - "How would I feel if my manager said this to me?" If it's something that you'd be thankful to hear, chances are your team would feel the same.

Another example, if you are a leader saying - "I am scared, and I have no idea what to do right now" - there is a good chance your colleagues will take on that same emotion, or worse, lose faith in your ability to lead.

Instead the leader could have said "This is unfamiliar territory, let's work on this together and find the best solution forward."

People in charge have to be mindful about how they say it, because they have more eyes on them.

Be aware of your intentions. Are you sharing from a place of authenticity, or just trying to fabricate a connection with others?

Vulnerability is still somewhat of a taboo term in many work places. As leaders, when you know how to capitalise on your vulnerabilities and bring your real-self to work, your create an environment of trust, growth, respect and opportunities for better connections. This positions yourself and your organisation for success in the future of work.

Welcome to the Reinvention!

About Adeline Tiah

I am an author, coach and a leading voice on the future of work. A big advocate of reinvention and founder of Soar Collective Asia (Soarcollective.asia ). I am also a co-founder/CMO of an ESG/AI startup (ESG-MD Ventures). Follow TROM.AI? for latest update on AI development and solutions.

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