Vulnerability and Leadership

Vulnerability and Leadership

For my MBA Strategy Planning Class, I had to read an article, called “Admitting what you do not know is key to effective leadership”, and respond to it in a discussion forum.

The article starts with "A strong leader is portrayed as an unflappable expert in practically everything."

I reflected on this quote for a few moments before I read the rest of the article (link at bottom of email) because the truth is strong leaders should be fallible.  They too make mistakes, but their behavior when they make a mistake is what differentiates a strong leader with someone who was put into place to manage.

Do you agree?

The problem lies with the perception that a strong leader is infallible.  Utterly false.  But if even one person believes it, the result is individuals that are put in leadership roles (influence or management) can feel that they cannot admit when they do not know or when they make a mistake.  Trying to live up to a false expectation or trying to protect the image of themselves is exhausting and leads to burn out.

If we stop circulating the lie that strong leaders know everything or don’t make mistakes, it allows us to acknowledge and celebrate the human who has stepped in to lead.

Afterall, leadership is already challenging without the need to feel like you need to protect some antiquated image of leadership.

I truthfully cannot think of one benefit in having one person know everything.  In fact, I personally would worry it would create an echo chamber where that one person’s opinion is it and only it.  Ugh.

That is not what we are after.  

For an environment to thrive, really thrive, it consists of multiple thought leaders that the business can go to ask questions. Diversity of thought and creative tension are rewarded and practiced every day. 

You know what I am talking about? 

Those conversations that are not defensive but stimulate thinking and innovation. They are not about putting people, process, and technology down, they are about lifting it up, enabling it and making it work for the problem at hand.  Everyone walks away better because of them.  

To build this type of environment, we must start with inquiry driven leadership, where catalytic questions are asked which usually start with “what” or “how.”  This enables the issue to be framed so that it can support an outcome.

How does this relate to vulnerability and leadership?

In leadership, you must be vulnerable.  To admit you don’t know or to have to get an answer from someone who does know might feel awkward to some.  Embrace it.  Use it to spotlight an expert on the team.  For example, I recently was talking with one of our team members, who shall remain nameless. I asked a question that they did not know. She did not get defensive about knowing. She did not feel bad for not knowing. She simply said, “I don’t know” and then ask if I wanted her to get the answer for me to which she proceeded to tell me how she would get into the know. What her thought process was to get the information so she could answer the question. WOW! I was thrown aback, I thought it was such a brilliant response.

I guess the bottom line is this.  All humans make mistakes.  Focus inward.  Be the leader you know you are.  If you are an expert, share your knowledge with the team.  If you are not an expert, find one to learn and grow.  If you make a mistake, raise your hand, and admit it.  Learn from it.

What do you think about strong leadership?  Welcome your opinions.

Happy Thursday all,

-srt

REFERENCE

Hebert-Maccaro, Karen. June 17, 2022. Admitting what you do not know is key to effective leadership. Fast Company. https://www.fastcompany.com/90761154/admitting-what-you-dont-know-is-key-to-effective-leadershiphttps://www.fastcompany.com/90761154/admitting-what-you-dont-know-is-key-to-effective-leadership