Being vulnerable is often misunderstood because we associate it with weakness or neediness: “If I’m too open, then I’ll be weak.” But there’s nothing wrong with being honest and showing who we are on the inside, rather than hiding ourselves behind masks of perfectionism or bravado. Vulnerability gives us more authenticity when interacting with others and enables us to be honest and courageous in admitting that we are not perfect. Learn how the coaching skills of leaders help them through this.
Let us discuss why the best leaders view vulnerability as a strength.
Why do the Best Leaders View Vulnerability as a Strength?
“A leader, first and foremost, is human. Only when we have the strength to show our vulnerability can we truly lead.” — Simon Sinek.
Builds Trust
Vulnerability is authentic, and authenticity builds trust, which is a foundational and vital element in any relationship, whether personal or professional, and people tend to trust authentic individuals.
When leaders show vulnerability, it opens the door for the team members to do the same and be their authentic selves, which helps to build trust amongst the team members for the leader. Furthermore, leaders also view vulnerability as a component of success in their leadership and building high-performing teams.
Inspires Accountability
The vulnerability enables leaders to admit mistakes, open up about struggling to devise a solution for a challenge they face and be open to opinions or solutions by the team members that they may not have seen otherwise by always being the one who solves them. Doing so inspires the team members to make meaningful contributions, take up responsibilities wholeheartedly and stay accountable for themselves and their actions, resulting in enhanced productivity and loyalty within the team and the organization.
Do you want to step forward toward becoming the best leader you can be? Why not begin with coach training?
Coach training offered at CoachWhizz aims to provide coaching skills for managers and leaders. It enables you to develop a coaching leadership style in which you refrain from advising or telling others what to do and instead become capable of encouraging, igniting, or facilitating a space for your team members and other employees in the organization to reach their full potential. Click here to enroll or to get more information.
Increases Confidence in Overcoming Adversity
As leaders, we often get scared of having too much on our plate but deny or avoid speaking about it, to not look weak.
Being vulnerable enables the leader to admit to having too much on their plate and allows them to share a portion of it with the team members. It leaves a profound impact, inspires the team members to recognize their challenges and express themselves freely, opens the room for more significant conversations, and allows us and the team to move together through adversity confidently.
Leads to Less Turnover
When a leader shows vulnerability, they become capable of valuing the team members’ input, opinions, and ideas, fostering a sense of shared ownership over the team and the organization’s success. It allows the team members to communicate openly, be honest, and feel more connected with the leader and the organization. When the employees feel more connected and valued in the organization, they are less likely to jump from their current job; instead, they look forward to growth within the organization by being more engaged and productive at work.
Enables to Ask for and Give Feed-Forward Without Judgment
As leaders, we give feedback to those we lead but often hesitate in asking for and receiving one from them, being at a hierarchy level.
The vulnerability enables leaders to change how they lead their team, allowing them to ask for and positively utilize feed-forward from the team members and employees within the organization, develop new skills, and grow as a leader. Furthermore, it also allows the leader to be non-judgmental and honest while giving feed-forward to the team members.
Final Words,
Vulnerability is a sign of strength when it comes to leadership. Leaders willing to be vulnerable are more likely to be successful because they can see the world from another perspective, making them more compassionate and understanding of the needs of others in the workplace. It also helps them to engage and relate better with their team members, leading to stronger relationships.
As a leader, when you’re vulnerable, you show your human side and let people see who you really are—that will make you connect better with others in the organization. The more you are at ease with your team and the other employees in the workplace, the better the work will be done collaboratively by every individual within the organization.
Are you ready to begin your journey as a vulnerable leader?
CoachWhizz offers coach training that provides the necessary coaching skills for leaders and managers and trains them to become more of that vulnerable leader who is no more at the hierarchy level with the team and lets other team members take the lead. Click here to enroll.
