What It Means to Be a Vulnerable Leader: Buzzword or a Transformational Practice?

What It Means to Be a Vulnerable Leader: Buzzword or a Transformational Practice?

Amid the pandemic, organizations learned to sustain themselves through digital platforms. One such application meeting this global need was Zoom Meetings. But given its exponential growth, the company couldn't keep up with the demand. Issues related to privacy and security started to crop up. The interesting fact about this incident was how Zoom CEO Eric S. Yuan responded to the issues raised. He released a memo and appeared on multiple channels. "We’ve learned our lessons, and we’ve taken a step back to focus on privacy and security... messed up as CEO” and that he felt “an obligation to win the users’ trust back.” Yuan faced up to the world; he not only owned up to his mistakes but expressed an active interest in rectifying them. We see immense vulnerability in this move. Vulnerability is ‘engaging in life, being all in, dedicating yourself to something.’?

There are many examples of leaders taking responsibility. Dr. Kalam, Oprah Winfrey, and Steve Jobs, to name a few. Some may think vulnerability equates to being an over-sharer or an emotionally-driven person; traits unappreciated in the business sphere. But such narrow definitions give a negative connotation to this fast-recognizing trait in leaders. Vulnerability is about authenticity, genuineness, and making oneself receptive to employee and client feedback. In this article, I will explore these subtle nuances of being an emotionally intelligent leader.

Understanding Vulnerability?

Let us make a case for this abstract concept within the organization. As a leader, you tend to decide the culture governing the communication patterns. This reciprocity reflects in the level of trust and rapport built in the team. A study by Westminster business school conducted an extensive review establishing the role of trust in various organizational outcomes. But how does one build trust? A famous concept is “vulnerability loops” , presented by Dr. Jeff Polzer and Daniel Coyle. Roughly, it means how you communicate and behave will influence the level of openness and trust within your team.?

No alt text provided for this image
Source: Chanel Fetaz, Thesis

If you’re a manager who’s closed off, it’s likely that your direct reports will be too. However, if you’re a manager who practices valuable leadership, the floodgates will open for some truly? amazing conversations. Understanding where your strengths and weaknesses lie and being honest about them with not only your team but yourself too.

Vulnerability and Leadership?

“Vulnerability is the best measure of courage” - Brené Brown?

When leaders are courageous enough to be vulnerable, they show their teams that they value their trust more than being infallible. This message fosters positive organizational behaviors. Including higher innovation, increased problem-solving, and decreased stress. It is understandable to question these claims. Given the act preceding it just an honest emotional expression. To fully grapple with this domino effect, try looking at emotions as an adaptive system. And not a by-product of cognition. Affect has the potency to dictate our behavior, thoughts , and even our decisions . Place it between people, and it's a constant back-and-forth, the subtext of most of our interactions. You give anger, you get fear. You show blame, you catch glimses of defensiveness. But when you express worry, you might see increased vigor, and responsiveness for trust. And thus, vulnerability becomes critical for performance .?

Practicing vulnerability?

Here are some ways vulnerability would show up in the workplace:

"I'm worried about the pace of this project. Is there any additional support you require for it?" "I see you've put in a lot of effort into this, but it is not yielding the desired results. Can we approach it from another angle?" "I'm sorry for being seemingly distracted today, I am going through something personally distressing."

Vulnerability at its heart is emotional intelligence. You can foster this soft skill by listening more. Try to hold back on advice and problem solving. Orient towards the other person with attention and grace. Practice empathy. Show genuine regard for the other person. View them as human beings with rich lives beyond the workplace.?

Lastly, as with most things, boundaries and professional standards reign supreme. “Vulnerability minus boundaries is not vulnerability.” We have to be discreet in ways we use our emotions–enough to prompt a response but not to overburden someone. Extending the previous example, violation of boundaries would be giving explicit details about personal woes.?


Today, as the "future of work" becomes a reality, with employers and workers leading a stressful and competitive life, the importance of open and honest communication is clear. Leaders must create a positive, open culture that prioritizes purpose, belongingness, and organizational values. Vulnerability is, therefore, a leader's strength, but it must be real. Otherwise, this ability can be developed over time through practice.

List of Sources and Data?

  1. https://drjodie.com.au/blog/the-importance-of-showing-vulnerability-as-a-leader
  2. https://hbr.org/2022/07/the-best-leaders-arent-afraid-of-being-vulnerable
  3. https://www.cultureamp.com/blog/brene-brown-vulnerability-in-leadership
  4. https://learn.g2.com/vulnerable-leadership?
  5. https://www.entrepreneur.com/leadership/why-vulnerability-is-a-leaders-greatest-str ength-not/431643?
  6. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0893318907313714
  7. https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/download/7a79d9b5cda6987091b70feaad66f167ae97c4a31b775c1ea26b3b9fadc91ba6/637036/Trustreport-1.pdf
  8. https://ideas.ted.com/how-showing-vulnerability-helps-build-a-stronger-team/
  9. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UsDNnS2ZtAd_U00ui_sW_QGu0XyEVc5z/view

Jesal Doshi

Insight-Idea-Implementation | Global Marketing | Powering Digital | New Opportunity Expertise | Founder Mindset | Ex-Unilever

1 年

A topic much less written about. Thank you for sharing. It’s lovely article

回复
Manoj Pareek

Head -R&D ( Health Food Drink Category ) and R&D Gurgaon Site Lead at Hindustan Unilever Limited

1 年

what a great story shared by a wonderful leader

要查看或添加评论,请登录

社区洞察

其他会员也浏览了