Over the years, we’ve learned that leaders who create the space for true vulnerability build psychologically safe work environments in which people feel welcome to be themselves. We’ve learned that when people are willing to be authentic at work, they’re also more willing to take creative risks, share their perspectives without fear of a consequence, and make valuable contributions that can only be expressed within a culture that values trust and inclusion. Emerging leaders, it’s up to you to set the tone for your workplace and build environments where vulnerability is celebrated. How do you do it?
- Lead by example: When you lead by example, and model what vulnerability look like for your team, you open the door for people with less formalized power to safely emulate your behavior.
- To get started, be honest about your struggles at work. Personal confessions are powerful tools. You can use them to share vulnerable moments with your team, relate to them in meaningful ways, and importantly, develop trust.
- When you’re struggling with a task, be honest When you need help with something, ask for it. When you’re feeling drained due to circumstances at home, let people know you’re not 100% because of things in your personal life.
- Secondly, you can model vulnerability by standing up for your values and beliefs in difficult moments, publicly and privately. For some leaders, that might involve speaking up for what you believe is right, like interrupting groupthink in meetings by offering a different perspective.
- For other leaders, smaller actions can be just as powerful: taking a real mental health day to recover, turning off your camera when you’re feeling Zoom fatigue and being honest about why, or blocking time on your calendar for a few minutes of personal time.