Blog by ANDREA BRUNEAU, DMC Learning Model and Organization Transformation Consultant
For as long as humans have been around our brains have been hardwired to avoid danger as a survival instinct. Although it is unlikely we will encounter a saber-toothed tiger on our lunch break, our fight or flight responses are still protecting us from present day threats. We have learned to protect our professional image to avoid losing social capital or worse - our jobs. Perhaps this is why the idea of bringing vulnerability into the workplace can be so challenging and uncomfortable. Experiences such as criticism from our boss, the success of another competent co-worker, being tasked with a project we feel unprepared to accomplish, making mistakes, or holding a dissenting opinion from your peer group can all trigger a stress response, warning us of a potential threat to our careers or sense of belonging. We therefore become defensive in the face of such threats (fight), or do our best to avoid them in the first place (flight).
In the right work environment, the willingness to be vulnerable creates opportunities that self-preservation does not. Francis Frei, a Harvard Business School professor, highlights this beautifully in this TedTalk, illustrating how if you protect and restrict your authentic self, you are less likely to be trusted, less likely to be given “stretch assignments,” and less likely to be promoted. People are less likely to be honest with or be influenced by your leadership. Vulnerability fosters trust and honest conversations which are necessary to identify and solve root problems, improve job performance, and innovate as a company.
To many, vulnerability signals weakness and risk. But being vulnerable does not mean admitting incompetence or unloading your emotional baggage onto your boss and co-workers. Rather, it means accepting that no one is perfect and that people will make mistakes. It is being willing to ask for help when you need it, recognizing the value of seeking out the expertise of others, and being receptive to differing opinions without negative judgment. Vulnerability is a signal of strength and wisdom, honesty, and commitment to truth and productive outcomes.
Here are a few actions you can take to begin incorporating vulnerability into your professional life:
Notice and praise the success of a peer
Respond to critical feedback with curiosity rather than becoming defensive
Ask for help or seek insight from a colleague
Recognize a situation where you suddenly feel stressed or defensive
Share an area of weakness that you want to work on
Offer support to an employee or peer who is struggling
If you make a mistake, consider why it happened and how you will avoid it in the future. Share your reflection with someone you trust.