In society, conventional wisdom holds that it is difficult to lead or negotiate or make demands from a position of perceived weakness. Leaders tend to adopt more of a stern, sometimes tyrannous attitude as a means to be taken seriously. Therefore, people, especially leaders, are expected to never show vulnerability. It now turns out that the popular perception of vulnerability is a myth.
In an ever-changing business landscape, where emotional intelligence plays an increasingly important role in leadership styles, vulnerability is now considered an asset. Vulnerable leaders inspire, are more authentic, and build bonds that lead to increased performance. This has also been illustrated by best-selling author, researcher and TED speaker Brene Brown, who in one of her most popular TedX talks, highlights that vulnerability is, in fact, the courage to show up and be seen; and that while most modern cultures err on the side of suppressing emotions in an effort to display strength, vulnerability is anything but weakness.
