Inc. explores the one word that separates great leaders from the rest: Vulnerability.
There’s immense power in being openly vulnerable. It allows a leader to emotionally connect with employees. And when employees connect above the neck with their leaders, they will walk through walls for them.
Billionaire Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin, is well-known for vulnerability. He once said, “Transparency, straightforwardness, and simplicity are true to the Virgin way of doing business.”
Best-selling author and researcher Brené Brown says vulnerability is “the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.” Her historic and viral TED Talk, The Power of Vulnerability, has already solidified the importance of vulnerability in the workplace, and how critical it is for leaders to connect with and inspire others.
One of the biggest myths surrounding vulnerability is that it’s a sign of weakness in the leadership realm. In her research, Brown says that vulnerability is not a weakness, but one of our most accurate measures of courage. She told Inc.’s Leadership Forum a few years back, “I cannot find a single incident of courage that is not completely underpinned by vulnerability. … Think about the last time you saw someone do something that was brave, and I guarantee you vulnerability will be there.”
3 ways to increase the practice of vulnerability1. Be willing to ask for help
2. Share personal stories about making mistakes
3. Commit to your promises
Billionaire Richard Branson Says What Separates Great Leaders From the Pack Really Comes Down to 1 Word – Marcel Schwantes, Inc.
