A Misunderstood Skill

This incredible skill fosters closeness and trust. In the workplace has been shown as the root of authentic leadership and meaningful connections. It is the ability to express and expose, in words and behavior, who we really are and what we genuinely think and feel. It tells the others you're with that you trust them. It allows you to truly get to know each other: how you think, what you value, and what you aspire to.

Have you guessed it yet? It is vulnerability! It also allows efficiency with others or teams to grow quickly and is the fastest route to wholeness is through challenging each other yet it is often mistaken for weakness or fragility.

Brene Brown, one of the formost experts in vulnerability believes, it is also the birthplace of courage, creativity, and innovation. Each characteristic is the epidemy of risk and require connection and growth. So, while we may have considered vulnerability to be a weakness, we have also considered feeling one's emotions to be so, too. Yet, being vulnerable connects us with others and the opposite of weak. Brene Brown studied ‘worthy’ people; her findings were they had:

·      courage to be imperfect,

·      compassion and a connection of authenticity,

·      they fully embraced vulnerability and invested in relationships.

The benefits of bringing our so-called full selves to work, or being authentic is a set of skills. Vulnerability is not about disclosure it is asking for feedback and stepping into tough conversations. When you stop caring about other people you can lose your capacity for connection or can be defined by what other people think and lose our capacity to be venerable.

Some examples of vulnerability: Telling others when they've done something to upset you. Sharing with someone something personal about yourself that you would normally hold back. Reaching out to someone you haven't talked to in a while and would like to reconnect with.

We live in a vulnerable world – one with the most in debt, obese, addicted, and medicated cohort in U.S. history. The problem is you cannot effectively, selectively numb your emotions. We can’t say here is the bad stuff - fear and disappointment and here is vulnerability and shame because doing so means we numb joy, gratitude, happiness, and hope.

Sometimes we need to just say I’m sorry and fix it or share our feelings. Learn more about how to get your team to be more creative and courageous!