The Surprising Outcome When I Embraced Vulnerability in Leadership for a Week

Let’s talk about something that’s often seen as taboo in the boardroom: vulnerability. Yes, I said it. The "V" word. For the longest time, vulnerability was like the awkward guest at the leadership party—everyone knew it was there but pretended not to notice. A while back, I decided to not just notice it but invite it to take the stage for a whole week. And guess what? The results were nothing short of surprising, inspiring, and yes, a little bit hilarious. So, grab your favorite snack, and let’s dive into this experiment in vulnerability.

The Experiment: A Week of Vulnerable Leadership

The challenge was simple: for one week, I would lead with vulnerability. This meant being open about my uncertainties, admitting when I didn’t have all the answers, and showing my human side. Sounds easy, right? Spoiler alert: It wasn’t. But the journey and its outcomes were more rewarding than I could have imagined.

Day 1: The Awkward Start

I kicked off the week with a team meeting where I decided to be upfront about a project I was feeling uncertain about. Instead of my usual pep talk, I admitted, “You know what, team? I’m really not sure what the best approach is here. What do you think?”

Crickets.

The team was so used to me having a clear direction that they were initially taken aback. But then something amazing happened—they started to share their ideas, and the floodgates of creativity opened. We ended up brainstorming solutions I hadn’t even considered.

Day 2: The Power of “I Don’t Know”

On the second day, I was asked a technical question I didn’t have the answer to. Old me would have bluffed my way through. Vulnerable me said, “I don’t know, but let’s find out together.” This led to a collaborative deep-dive, and not only did we find the answer, but we also learned a ton in the process. Plus, the team appreciated the honesty and felt more empowered to admit their own gaps in knowledge.

Day 3: Sharing Personal Challenges

Halfway through the week, I shared a personal challenge with my team—juggling work and a family commitment. This opened up a dialogue about work-life balance and how we all manage our personal commitments alongside our professional ones. It was heartening to see the team supporting each other and sharing their own experiences and tips.

Day 4: Asking for Help

This was a biggie. I needed help with a client proposal but asking for help wasn’t my forte. But “Vulnerability Week” was all about breaking down those walls. So, I reached out to a colleague. Not only did she provide fantastic insights, but she also expressed how honored she was to be asked. This small act of asking for help strengthened our professional bond and made the proposal much stronger.

Day 5: Admitting a Mistake

No one likes to admit they messed up, especially leaders. But on day five, I did just that. I owned up to a mistake in our project timeline during a team call. Instead of disappointment, I was met with appreciation for my honesty and a team that rallied to find a solution. It was a powerful reminder that leadership is not about perfection but about leading by example, even in mistakes.

The Outcomes: Surprising, Inspiring, Hilarious

So, what did a week of vulnerable leadership teach me? A whole lot.

• Increased Trust and Creativity: My team felt more comfortable sharing their ideas and challenges, leading to a more creative and collaborative environment.

• Deeper Connections: By showing my human side, I was able to connect with my team on a deeper level. We shared laughs, advice, and even a few memes along the way.

• Empowerment: Admitting when I didn’t know something or needed help empowered my team to do the same. It fostered a culture of learning and support rather than one of blame and shame.

• Resilience: Facing my vulnerability head-on made me realize how resilient I truly am. Each admission of not knowing, each request for help, and each shared personal challenge made me stronger, not weaker.

And the hilarious part? Realizing how much energy I had spent on maintaining a façade of infallibility. There were moments of comedy gold as I navigated my new vulnerable approach, from awkward silences to overenthusiastic confessions. But laughter, as they say, is the best medicine, and it certainly made our team bond stronger.

The Takeaway: Embrace Your Vulnerability

If there’s one thing I want you to take away from my experiment, it’s this: vulnerability is not a liability in leadership; it’s a strength. It opens the door to genuine connections, fosters a supportive and creative work environment, and shows that being a leader doesn’t mean you have to be perfect. It means being real, being human, and being brave enough to show your true self.

So, I challenge you to embrace your vulnerability. Start small if you need to, but start. The journey might be awkward, surprising, and even a bit scary at times, but I promise you—it’s also incredibly rewarding.

And remember, in the words of the great Brené Brown, “Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.” Let’s be the leaders who dare to be vulnerable, who dare to change, and who, most importantly, dare to laugh at themselves along the way. Here’s to leading with vulnerability and to the surprising, inspiring, and yes, hilarious journey that it brings.