What is the essence of vulnerability in leadership?
Vulnerability is ‘the battle’ between our ego and our real self. As psychologist Carl Jung puts it, the ego is the part of our identity that we are comfortable showing to the world. Whereas, we have certain young parts of ourselves that feel young and vulnerable. Our true self. As a leader vulnerability is being open about our young parts: we also have weaker sides and there are things, actions or situations dont feel very uncomfortable.
Vulnerability is so beneficial for a leader that it build trust with its teams, strengthens connection, encourages innovation, facilitates learning and problem solving. But the deepest potential: it’s the leaders path towards self actualization. In the case of Metallica, the story shows the importance of vulnerability and the massive success that followed with their rock ballad Nothing Else Matters.
Why vulnerability in leadership is so important?
- Builds Trust and Authenticity: When leaders are willing to be vulnerable, it sends a message that they are real and genuine. This authenticity builds trust with team members, as they can relate to a leader who acknowledges their own imperfections and vulnerabilities.
- Fosters Connection: Vulnerability allows leaders to connect with their team on a deeper level. When leaders open up about their own struggles and challenges, it creates a sense of camaraderie and helps team members feel more comfortable sharing their own concerns.
- Encourages Innovation: Leaders who are open to vulnerability create an environment where team members feel safe to voice their ideas and opinions without fear of judgment. This can lead to increased innovation and creativity within the organization.
- Facilitates Learning and Growth: Leaders who admit their mistakes and vulnerabilities set an example for their team. This encourages a culture of continuous learning and growth, where team members are more willing to take risks and learn from their experiences.
- Enhances Problem Solving: Vulnerable leaders are more open to seeking input and feedback from their team. This collaborative approach to problem-solving often leads to more well-rounded solutions and a more engaged team.
And on the deepest level: it’s the path towards self actualization
What a man can be, he must be. This need we call self-actualization. Abraham Maslow
Vulnerability has many different faces and struggling with it is the way of self actualisation. Even when, we are 20 years in leadership there are certain word, actions, situations that makes uncomfortable. For example, I know this strong alpha leader. For him, it remains a very vulnerable feeling to talk about his weaker sides or his personal struggles. This, is however, the part of self actualization – we are expanding our zone of leading in many difficult situations.
Examples of vulnerability in leadership
- Being sincere about your feelings and expressing them
- Accepting a position of leadership and guiding your team and making uncomfortable decisions and bearing responsibility
- Voicing your opinion that goes against corporate culture or dominant consensus
- Being comfortable with sharing failure
Metallica & Vulnerability: Nothing Else Matters
Metallica is a known Rockband or Heavy metalband. James Hetfield didn’t want his bandmates to hear this epic ballad about his girlfriend. But Nothing Else Matters became the breakthrough Metallica needed.
“At first I didn’t even want to play it for the guys,” he admitted to Mojo Magazine in 2008. “I thought that Metallica could only be the four of us. These are songs about destroying things, head banging, bleeding for the crowd, whatever it is, as long as it wasn’t about chicks and fast cars, even though that’s what we liked. The song was about a girlfriend at the time. It turned out to be a pretty big song.”
Source: www.loudersound.com
The leadership lesson of Nothing Else Matters
Vulnerability is about showing our real selves, what’s there in our hearts, head and gut. Where we feel fear or a possibility of rejection we are entering the field of vulnerability. It can be a word, a song, an action, a presentation. As a leader psychological safety is according Google the biggest predictor of team succes. How comfortable you’re with your own vulnerabilities is most likely to influence the vulnerability and hence psychological safety you’re able to contain in your team(s). As a leader, do you dare to share with us your vulnerability?
Article series: Leadership secrets: rules of the higher game
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