Authentic. Vulnerable. Forgiving.
These are characteristics that are sometimes overlooked and seem a bit daunting for leaders of larger teams to prioritize. Especially for those who have been taught that vulnerable = weak.
The truth is that vulnerability is crucial for success, both in personal and professional instances. Not everything or everyone is perfect, and recognizing this promotes transparency in the workplace. There is a good chance that everybody you are working with has made some mistakes – related or unrelated to their job – and addressing mistakes humanizes you. Every company faces challenges and presents room for improvement, but addressing the faults your team is facing can seem difficult. This begs the question, where is improvement without accountability?
Without being vulnerable, it is also nearly impossible to make meaningful connections with your coworkers. The only real way to find out how others are doing is to ask them… relying on universal facial expressions will not cut it.
Brené Brown, research and author, explains that vulnerability is “basically uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure” that exemplifies the most accurate measure of courage.
Looking to lead with more vulnerability? Here is how you start.
Open up.
Being the leader of a team at work can make it more difficult for your employees to find comfort in opening up to you. It is your duty to set the tone of the workspace you want to lead and encourage the honest communication you are looking for.
Check on your team members personally.
On the same note, taking initiative to set up 1:1 meetings with your team members will give them more opportunities to address areas they are struggling in and ask for help. After feeling comfortable with expressing their thoughts and feelings, allocating time for them to do so will only further encourage it.
Practice forgiveness.
Forgiving someone for a mistake is different than tolerating error. You can be patient and encourage growth without sacrificing an efficient work environment. Forgiveness is shown to decrease voluntary employee turnover and lead to increased employee productivity, according to researcher Kim Cameron of the University of Michigan. Following up a mistake with constructive criticism indicating how someone could move forward is more effective than belittling someone.
A lack of authenticity and vulnerability will be registered by those around you, so having the courage to express how you are feeling will only strengthen the bond you have with your team.
