Leading with Vulnerability
Have you ever felt like you had to hide your true self to be successful? It's time to embrace the power of vulnerability. In this episode, Andrea and Michelle explore the transformative power of vulnerability in leadership. They discuss how vulnerability fosters trust, credibility, and psychological safety within teams by debunking common myths that link vulnerability to weakness.
The episode highlights strategies for leaders to leverage vulnerability as a strength, creating a culture of open communication and respect. By embracing vulnerability, leaders can nurture an environment where mistakes are seen as valuable learning opportunities. The discussion emphasizes the importance of striking a balance between sharing and oversharing, guiding listeners on revealing their humanity while maintaining professional integrity.
Executives seeking to enhance their leadership by embracing vulnerability will find this episode insightful and practical. Join Andrea and Michelle as they dive into the role of vulnerability in effective and compassionate leadership, offering valuable insights for leaders aiming to transform their approach.
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Fostering Engagement Through Credibility and Vulnerability in the Workplace
For leaders, managers, and CEOs alike, coming across as cold and distant is often a problem. How can you ensure you create a connection with your team?
On this Leadership Hustle Podcast episode, Andrea and Michelle will guide you through the intricacies of building credibility and vulnerability. We'll explore a realm where human connection is in your organization.
The Foundation of Authenticity
In today's hyper-competitive environment, the necessity of transparency and authenticity in the workplace rings louder than ever.
Yet, the discerning question persists: What does it truly mean to be authentic in the workplace?
How can we, as leaders, become authentic and vulnerable without crossing the line or seeming unprofessional?
Redefining Vulnerability
At its core, vulnerability is not a display of weakness, as conventionally perceived, but transparency of feeling of struggles. It's recognizing your mistakes and trying to make them better.
When leaders can acknowledge their fallibility, they resonate on a transcendental level with their teams.
This type of vulnerability is obvious when leaders are open to admitting when they've made a mistake or lack answers to every question.
In practice, authenticity means leaders are not afraid to share their learning from failures and admit that they too are a work in progress.
To put it into practice:
Recognize mistakes: Identify an instance where you made an error and publicly acknowledge it.
Share your growth: Follow up with the lessons you learned from rectifying the mistake.
Be relatable: Illustrate how this experience improved your work processes or personal development.
The Art of Small Talk for Vulnerability
This seemingly mundane interaction stands as a potent tool in fostering genuine connection and understanding. True leaders revel in the casual banter, as it unveils insights into the multifaceted personas behind designated roles.
Of course, this doesn't mean to air all your personal business into the organization. Connection comes with a limit. These limits will be placed by you and your teams. Officers discussing movies they enjoyed over the weekend or employees chatting about a shared hobby—these candid interludes infuse a breath of fresh air, making the rigid corporate structure seem more human.
To leverage the power of small talk:
Remember past conversations: Call back to previous chats to show you listen and care.
Share your interests: When appropriate, chime in on non-work related topics to set a relatable tone.
Be an active listener: Encourage team members to share their thoughts and genuinely listen to their stories.
Building a Foundation of Trust
Trust is the currency of the workplace, empowers collective actions, and fuels organizational performance. It is within a context of trust that credibility flourishes and mutual respect between team members and leaders.
Building Trust
Fostering trust demands a careful balance of authority and approachability. It is about creating an environment in which individuals feel safe to take risks and share their ideas, knowing their voices will be valued and their vulnerabilities respected.
Implementing mechanisms for trust:
Set clear expectations: Ensure that the team knows what is expected of them and how these collective goals contribute to the organization.
Encourage feedback: Create avenues where employees can offer their perspectives, whether this is an open-door policy or an anonymous suggestion box.
Act on feedback: Demonstrate that you value the input by acting on reasonable suggestions and addressing critical issues.
The Vulnerability Problem
For leaders charting the course of their organizations, the notion of vulnerability may appear antithetical to their role. After all, how can one be vulnerable and maintain authority? A leader who can share their experiences and challenges impartially does not diminish authority but rather exemplifies the traits that embody effective leadership.
The Culture of Courage
Culture does not happen by accident; it is shaped by the values we embody in our organization, the narratives we share, and the behaviors we normalize. For a culture of credibility and vulnerability to thrive, it must be championed—boldly and consistently—from the helm. It will be part of your job as a leader to promote a culture of trust, honesty, and vulnerability. If you don't promote it, then it probably won't happen.
Promoting a culture of courage:
Clarify values: Articulate the core values that your organization stands for and demonstrate them in your daily actions.
Narrate the vision: Share a compelling vision for the future of your team or organization, underlining the role of trust and shared appreciation in achieving it.
Model the behavior: Be the torchbearer of authenticity in your interactions, setting the benchmark for expected conduct.
The intersection of credibility and vulnerability in leadership is a complex one, yet its implications on the workplace are profound. By cultivating these attributes, not as mere virtues but as guiding philosophies, we can pave the way for a more resilient, innovative, and cohesive work culture.
Start Seeing Results Today
Ready to see the results you want in your organization and elevate your leadership to the next level?
Need some help implementing effective leadership in your organization? Contact Revela Group today for tips and leadership mentoring.
About the Hosts
Andrea Fredrickson
Andrea Fredrickson is a thought leader and consultant at Revela, an organization based in Omaha, Nebraska specializing in the development of leaders, culture alignment, and business strategy for private and family businesses of all sizes. Revela is one of the region's most experienced thought challengers, helping individuals and companies find their greatness. Andrea has built an amazing team by believing that fundamentally people want to be successful and become better versions of themselves.
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Andrea has degrees in education, management, and business. She is the author of Insight Unseen; How to lead with 20/20 business vision. She helps people see things differently, self-reflect, and never stop looking for ways to improve themselves on a personal and professional level. Andrea has spent more than 30 years researching and developing methods to help people communicate and lead more effectively.
When Andrea isn’t working with clients, you’ll find her spending time with her family & friends and making memories by exploring new cities.
Michelle Hill
Michelle Hill is a master facilitator and coach at Revela, an organization specializing in the development of leaders and aligning the culture of privately held and family businesses of all sizes. Revela is one of the region's most experienced thought challengers, helping individuals and companies find their greatness.
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An ambitious leader, Michelle has the natural ability to create forward momentum to build teams and get results. She inspires others to look within themselves and to challenge the status quo. She helps create high-performing environments. Michelle brings a diverse background: operations, employee development, and sales in the steel, hospitality, and consulting industries.
Outside of work, you will see her competitive side engaged in her daughter’s sports and ISU athletics. She loves life, her four-legged companions, and captures all the moments through her camera’s lens.
TRANSCRIPT
Andrea Frederickson: How do you build credibility and trust with your team? In this episode of The Leadership Hustle, we'll discuss how vulnerability has an impact on the trust of your team. Hello, and welcome to the Leadership Hustle for executives whose companies are growing fast and need leaders who are ready. Hey, it's Andrea Fredrickson here. And I've got Michelle joining me today. Hello. I was going to say good morning. But you guys don't know I don't know what time you guys are listening today. So anyway, the topic today is about vulnerability. And as a leader using that vulnerability to your benefit. But the reality is, you know, we've had this conversation recently with quite a few folks that we coach.