How Authenticity and Vulnerability Pay Off and Help You Win
Authenticity and vulnerability are buzzwords in the leadership space. But what do they really mean? How can you be more authentic and vulnerable as a leader? And how will your team respond? In this post, we'll explore these questions and more.
Going Beyond the Buzzwords
Authenticity means being completely honest with yourself and others about who you are, what you want, and how you feel at any given moment. It’s the practice of letting go of what other people think of us so that we can be exactly who we were meant to be without shame or fear holding us back from being ourselves.
Vulnerability is about acknowledging our limitations, fears, and flaws without judgment or criticism from others (or ourselves). It involves allowing ourselves to be seen as human beings who make mistakes just like everybody else does—and finding ways to build on those experiences rather than allowing them to derail us from reaching our goals.
Being authentic and vulnerable as a leader has many benefits and will help you grow both personally and professionally.
As leaders, authenticity becomes even more crucial because it allows us to not only show up fully but also inspire those around us by demonstrating how important it is for each individual team member's voice to be heard—and leading by example instead of dictating how things should happen based on personal preferences alone.
Authentic leaders don't take advantage of others' trust; instead, they build relationships based on transparency and openness. When you're authentic with your employees (or colleagues), it shows them that you respect them enough, to tell the truth about an issue—even if it means being vulnerable by admitting fault or taking responsibility for mistakes made by others on your team.
Authenticity and vulnerability go hand in hand.
As you might have gathered, authenticity and vulnerability go hand in hand, so much so that it's hard to talk about one without mentioning the other. Authenticity isn't just important; it's a key component of being vulnerable. The most authentic people are those who own their stories and don't try to hide from things that make them feel vulnerable.
The ability to be open, honest, and willing to share who you are on a deeper level will help you win at work because your coworkers will feel like they know who you are as a person, the real you, and not just from your LinkedIn profile.
The benefits of vulnerability.
In today’s world, where we are constantly being told to be strong and put on a brave face, vulnerability has become a sign of weakness. It’s not the case. Vulnerability is actually a sign of strength—it allows you to connect with others on a deeper level and even helps you grow as an individual.
As humans, we are naturally drawn to people who are open with us and willing to share their feelings; if we sense that someone isn't being real or honest with us (for example, if they're always putting up walls), then it becomes difficult for us to trust them. People who don't trust you aren't going to want to work with you, take risks and innovate with you, or ask for your feedback, showing their vulnerability in return.
Why is authenticity so important?
Authenticity is important because it helps you connect with others.
It's easy to feel alone and unconnected, especially when you're trying to make a change in your life. If authenticity helps us connect with ourselves and other people, then being authentic will help us cultivate those relationships that we need to be successful in our lives.
Authenticity is important because it helps us be more confident.
When you know who you are, the rest tends to fall into place more easily. When we're authentic about who we are, what we want out of life, and how we want to get there, we can rest assured that our true selves will guide us through anything.
Authenticity and vulnerability pay off and help you win.
Authenticity and vulnerability pay off big time in the workplace by helping you build better relationships with others, gain trust, and make you more confident. How does this pay off at work? A few ways:
You’re more likely to get promoted, get raises, and stand out at work. People will like you more and want to work with you.
You’ll build better relationships with your coworkers, which will make it easier for you to get things done.
You’ll have more energy and be more engaged at work.
You’ll be more creative and innovative. You’ll have more mental space for thinking about the future and coming up with new ideas.
Examples of how to demonstrate authenticity and vulnerability
There are many ways to demonstrate authenticity and vulnerability. Here are some examples that you can try:
Be real, be yourself. You don't have to pretend to be someone else just because that's what people expect or want from you. In fact, if you're not being true to yourself, others will sense this and feel like they can't connect with you on a deeper level. This also goes for your values and beliefs, too—don't hide these things in order to please others or fit in better with a group of people who share different views than yours; instead, speak up when an issue arises that matters deeply to you!
Be honest and authentic by sharing the unedited version of the story—the good parts as well as the bad ones (and let me tell you: there will always be both). It's also important not only how much one shares but also how one shares it, with openness and honesty being key ingredients rather than fear or judgment! If someone wants advice about something personal, such as their career path, but doesn't want anyone else finding out about it until after making their decision, then that is fine too. Just don't pressure them into revealing specifics before they're ready (or just give them some time).
How working with a coach can help you be a more authentic and vulnerable leader
Most people struggle with authenticity and vulnerability because they worry about what other people will think or say, especially in a professional setting.
Fortunately, working with a coach can help you learn how to be more authentic and vulnerable as a leader.
Your coach can help you develop a more authentic and vulnerable leadership style.
Your coach can also help you gain confidence and become more self-aware—two important qualities for anyone who wants to be an effective leader.
You will also discover what authenticity means to you! That’s important because it helps build trust between you and your team members when everyone understands each other’s strengths and weaknesses better than ever before.
In addition, your coach may also help build confidence through coaching sessions where there's enough trust in the client/coach relationship so that both parties feel comfortable sharing feelings openly.
Finally, your coach might talk about building authenticity and vulnerability as leaders, which will ensure constant growth and improvement in their work-life balance and lead us back into problem-solving mode again!
Final thoughts on how authenticity and vulnerability pay off and help you win.
If you’re looking to gain a competitive edge in today’s economy, the best way to do it is by showing your authentic self. And the best way to do that is by being vulnerable. Not only does vulnerability help you connect with others better, but it also makes you more likeable, which leads to trust and loyalty.
