I have been reading Brene Brown's newest book on leadership, Dare To Lead. Like everything else she writes, it is of course fantastic. She talks about the power of vulnerability and how the best leaders exemplify this quality. The first push back to this usually comes by people believing the myth that vulnerability is weakness.
She defines vulnerability to be "the emotion that we experience during times of uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure." She quickly dispels the myth that vulnerability is weakness by asking a group of military special forces soldiers if they have every witnessed an act of courage from another soldier that did not require experiencing vulnerability, to which they could not answer.
This is a pretty good move if you ask me; to go to the country's bravest people to ask them about bravery and weakness.
When we are vulnerable with others we invite them into a space of connection and safety: excellent qualities for friends, family, and those we lead.
As you are starting off your week today, I encourage you to ask yourself this question: "Who in my life might benefit from my decision to drop some of my armor and embrace vulnerability?" Perhaps that means people you are leading or simply your friends and family.
