3 Ways Vulnerability Shapes Better Leaders

The opinions expressed by entrepreneurs contributors are their own.

In many circles, admitting vulnerability is tantamount to admitting a major character flaw. For decades, we have been taught that leaders must be calm, decisive, and unflappable pillars of force. While it is said that being vulnerable is a weakness, the counter-intuitive truth is that it can be one's greatest strength. Rather than viewing vulnerability as submissive or weak, it should be reframed as having the courage to be yourself and forge real human connections with employees.

That's the idea behind my project, Vivid Minds. It's a space where leaders and visionaries can speak candidly about their challenges and how those moments have shaped their lives. Experts agree that vulnerability shapes better leaders. Here are three reasons:

Related: Why Vulnerability Is A Strong Business Leader's Most Powerful Weapon

1. It makes you more trustworthy and empathetic

The doctor has studied the idea of ​​vulnerability for years. She and other researchers have found that vulnerability, or “emotional exposure,” is far more effective than maintaining “professional distance” when building a team.

At a recent Parlor Social Club event, thought leader and performance coach David Bishop, who previously ran Sony, spoke about his research into "human-centered leadership". He and several colleagues have noted that authenticity (another way of defining vulnerability) is a key component of being a good leader.

When a founder can admit to their team that they are not in the right emotional space for a meeting or are distracted by a personal emergency, it shows a level of humanity that employees resonate with and appreciate.

The problem is that your team can tell when something is wrong. As humans, we are uniquely wired to read facial expressions, tone, and as a way to shape our interactions. So your team can unconsciously pick up on these signals even if you try to hide them.

When there is an obvious discrepancy between your expressions and your words, the feeling of inauthenticity can make subordinates feel uncomfortable and disconnected from you. So when you dare to be honest and open with your team, they can sense it, which makes them more empathetic and confident in you.

2. It helps your team believe in your cause

Often entrepreneurs start a business because they feel passionate about solving a problem or changing the way something is done. In many cases, founders start businesses in response to their personal stories. Sharing the raw, sometimes uncomfortable or "messy" truth behind their inspiration is the kind of vulnerability that can create a powerful, tight-knit team of like-minded individuals.

An example is the story of Shane Heath, the mind behind the alternative brand MUD\WTR. Heath spent years in the heart of Silicon Valley, working for tech companies and co-founding two of his own. Throughout this time, he became heavily addicted to caffeine. However, he noticed that as he drank more coffee, his mental health seemed to deteriorate.

As he began to think about this and experiment with alternatives that would allow him to experience the pleasure of the "coffee ritual" without the unwanted side effects, he opted for a mixture of tea, spices and adaptogens which he jokingly called "mud."

His openness and vulnerability to all the past struggles that led him to create MUD\WTR allowed him to surround himself with a team of investors, partners and employees who not only believed in him, but also in his mission.

Vulnerability allows people to resonate deeply with your passion. This ignites a spark that makes them extremely loyal and eager to give their all to the cause.

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