Why Vulnerability Is An Important Part Of Leadership

Vulnerability has an important place in good business practices.

It creates an environment where everyone is safe to learn and grow from their mistakes. It also saves time and creates a better work culture for all.

While it might seem counterintuitive, vulnerability makes stronger leaders. Here are some reasons why vulnerability is such an essential part of good leadership.

Vulnerability Leads To Better Communication 

Vulnerable communication is the best type of communication. Good managers always let employees know they are safe to voice their opinions.

“If able to be open and share information honestly and authentically, a leader sends a strong message that this is not only acceptable throughout the organization, but it is the norm. Team members will feel that it is okay to open up and share with each other.” – Business 2 Community

This will lead to better communication due to a stronger sense of trust among team members.

Vulnerability Increases Creativity 

Workers who are safe are more likely to take more creative risks. They are also more likely to share doubts about projects sooner than they need to.

“Vulnerability is essential for connection and creativity. If we embrace it, the benefits will extend way beyond our careers.” – It’s Nice That

Vulnerability is especially important during the R&D phases of a project. It is necessary to allow employees to explore new ideas without judgment. So if you want increased creative output, vulnerability is always the way to go!

Vulnerability Saves Time

Mistakes are inevitable in business, and time is often wasted trying to avoid this truth. But, if business plans account for the possibility of setbacks beforehand, there is much less stress when things do go wrong.

“…if you compare the time firms spend on remediating huge risks that are detected too late or dealing with the fallout of a security breach, it becomes clear that a little attention each and every day is actually a huge time-saver.” – Uzado

So open communication along the way saves time by allowing mistakes to be identified and dealt with earlier.

Vulnerability Creates A Better Culture 

Vulnerability creates a better work culture by fostering honesty and openness. One of the best ways you can open yourself up to vulnerable leadership is by respecting the input of those on your team.

It’s important to have a judgment-free open-door policy. “Make sure your staff members aren’t afraid to ask questions or give feedback.” – COO Alliance Blog

Hearing what others have to say is always a great way to see things differently and from a fresh perspective.

Vulnerability Leads To Less Turnover 

Employee turnover is unavoidable. However, when leaders are understanding, flexible and transparent, they begin to foster more long-term thinking.

“A culture of forgiveness in organizations can lead to increased employee productivity as well as less voluntary turnover.  Again, the impact of a culture that is forgiving breeds trust. As a consequence, an organization becomes more resilient in times of organizational stress or down-sizing.” – Harvard Business Review

Vulnerable leaders are strong leaders. They’re not afraid to admit their mistakes, so they are more likely to be in a position to do something about them. They also encourage their team in many ways to respect open and honest communication by inspiring accountability.

Being vulnerable in the workplace is about letting your mistakes be teachers rather than something to be avoided. So as a leader, it is one of the best skills you can possess!

If you have questions or would like more information, I’d be happy to help. Please send an email, and my team will get in touch with you!