Vulnerability is a Leader’s Greatest Strength

For business owners and leaders, being vulnerable is often seen as a weakness. Building a business leader is a tough job and it’s natural to want to appear confident and in control, even when we aren’t. However, the leaders who are prepared to showcase their vulnerability are more effective than those who don’t.

Being Vulnerable is Tough for Leaders

We’re all human and no one is perfect, yet as leaders, entrepreneurs, or business owners, we all try to be. That’s why most of us have a hard time admitting to our mistakes or seeking help. You aren’t always going to have the right answer to every problem and sometimes, things might not go the way you planned. And that’s okay! The best leaders are the ones who have the courage to admit that:

1. I was wrong about something.
2. I don’t know the answer.
3. I need help from someone else.

As Dr. Brene Brown, author of the #1 New York Times bestselling book, Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead says, “Vulnerability sounds like the truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they are never a weakness.” In fact, vulnerability can become a leader’s greatest strength if used properly.

Vulnerability = A Leader’s Greatest Strength

Great leaders are the ones who recognize the importance vulnerability has in the workplace because it creates a foundation for open and honest communication, fuels a healthy and strong culture, and brings more success to your organization. Because while leadership requires competence and confidence, it also requires connection. Your team isn’t going to be successful just by believing in the vision of the organization. They also need to believe in you and that belief starts with the human connection that comes from being vulnerable.

EOS Creates a Healthy Environment for EOS

Being vulnerable in the workplace doesn’t mean walking around and sharing your deepest darkest secrets with everyone or telling someone you think they are ugly. That’s because vulnerability, without boundaries, is not vulnerability. Leaders should be careful to use it as a way to develop and grow themselves as better leaders and to encourage the creation of a healthy environment where their team can do the same.

The Entrepreneurial Operating System’s tools and processes are designed to help leaders establish these boundaries and create a sustainable method for building a healthy environment that allows vulnerability-based trust. By opening yourself up and being vulnerable with your team, it creates the opportunity for trust to develop. This is something that develops over time with the right boundaries and is the foundation for a healthy team. Fostering this foundation based on a culture of vulnerability-based trust and having the capacity to openly share ideas so you will always be gaining traction for your vision can all be accomplished with the help of EOS.

If you want to learn more about how EOS can help you build a healthier organization, let’s connect! As an EOS Implementer, I’m here to push you to be your best in a healthy and collaborative environment, get to the root of your issues, and give you the resources to help your leadership team take your business to the next level.