When we talk about vulnerability in the workplace, what do we mean?
I was told a story recently about someone who worked in a really toxic environment (by toxic, I mean behaviours, not chemicals), and how, in trying to address some of these toxicities, including low trust within the team, they were asked to share something vulnerable about themselves with the team.
His team members started to share what he felt were some really inappropriate and personal things, that really didn’t do anything to highlight any of the issues within the team itself, and if anything only exacerbated his resistance and awkwardness.
It was effectively a train smash of an experience for this person.
So what vulnerability isn’t:
❌ it’s not weakness
❌ it isn’t over sharing with colleagues every gritty detail of our personal life story
❌ it isn’t about emotional dumping.
So what is it then?
✅ according to Brené Brown, “it’s an emotion we experience during times of uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure”
✅ it’s about admitting we aren’t perfect and showing others our true selves
✅ it’s a gateway to creativity
✅ we need courage to be vulnerable.
Some examples of workplace vulnerability might be:
💜 a leader saying they don’t know the answer but asking lots of questions and showing their willingness to learn
💜 asking for feedback and giving feedback
💜 apologising to a colleague for interrupting them in a meeting
💜 sharing that we feel triggered and need a few minutes to process our feelings before resuming the conversation
💜 saying that we really don’t know how to complete the task and need some help
💜 asking for patience from colleagues if we feel a bit distracted due to some personal stuff going on at home
💜 admitting that we’ve made a mistake.
In the workplace, it’s hard to shed our protective armour we’ve got so used to wearing, especially if we don’t feel safe in the environment we’re in.
As hard and uncomfortable as it can be to do, it is important work, and if done in a way that people really understand what vulnerability is and isn’t, and are prepared to show up with courage for the good of themselves and the team, then working together on what makes us human can be a positive and transformational new beginning for all involved.
Trust and safety, together, are the non-negotiable foundations on which high performing teams are built.
We’re all human.
We all want to feel like we belong.
We all want to feel respected and valued as our whole selves.
Being willing to be vulnerable is the first step.
Being your courageous and vulnerable self is the next.
Showing genuine curiosity, respect and gratitude for other people’s vulnerability is the next.
As Brené also says, vulnerability is “sharing with people who have earned the right to hear our stories and experiences.”
It’s a journey. Earn that right. One step at a time.
Learn to be vulnerable together.
