{"id":15106,"date":"2023-01-12T18:58:19","date_gmt":"2023-01-12T23:58:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bbinsurance.com\/?post_type=insight&p=15106"},"modified":"2023-01-12T18:58:19","modified_gmt":"2023-01-12T23:58:19","slug":"5-ways-to-be-a-vulnerable-leader-in-the-workplace-and-why-its-so-important","status":"publish","type":"insight","link":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/insight\/5-ways-to-be-a-vulnerable-leader-in-the-workplace-and-why-its-so-important\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Ways to be a Vulnerable Leader in the Workplace \u2014 And Why It\u2019s So Important"},"content":{"rendered":"

5 Ways to be a Vulnerable Leader in the Workplace \u2014 And Why It\u2019s So Important<\/strong>
\nby Julie Turpin, Chief People Officer at Brown & Brown Insurance<\/em><\/p>\n

A new year is often considered a \u201cclean slate\u201d and a time to set resolutions to better oneself. I believe in setting goals for self-improvement and taking action to achieve them, but I don\u2019t believe we start over at the beginning of the year.<\/p>\n

Instead, a new year brings the opportunity to continue building on the life and self you\u2019ve already created<\/a><\/span> and achieved \u2014 personally and professionally. For example, many of us have achieved our goal of becoming a leader in our workplace. That achievement isn\u2019t erased on January 1, but in 2023 the question becomes: How will we become BETTER leaders in the new year?<\/p>\n

The answer: By leading with our whole selves.<\/p>\n

A study published in Mastering Leadership<\/em><\/a><\/span> found that we are 93% more likely to be effective when leading with our whole selves. But bringing our whole selves to work can be scary and requires a level of vulnerability historically viewed as inappropriate for the workplace \u2014 not to mention from a leader or C-suite executive.<\/p>\n

But the world is changing. And vulnerability is now not only accepted in the workplace but seen as a strength and desirable quality in leadership.<\/p>\n

So let\u2019s incorporate vulnerability into our company cultures in 2023<\/a><\/span> and everything that comes with it \u2014 more empathy, compassion and stronger collaboration.<\/p>\n

Here are five ways you can start this process as a leader:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 \u00a0 Be present when you\u2019re present.<\/strong> Leadership, just like any relationship, is about showing up. How do you show up for your team and colleagues? It can be difficult to truly be present in today\u2019s \u201calways on\u201d and multi-device environment. One of the most important ways I show up for my teammates is by actively choosing not to check email during our meetings. My attention is on them and the meeting. This makes it possible to catch 100% of the nuance, body language and tonality used by my team. If you sense that your team is stressed, being present doesn\u2019t necessarily mean stepping in to take that stress away. Sometimes it\u2019s just about being available to help them work through the challenge. Everyone wants to feel valued and seen.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Choose your words wisely.<\/strong> Language is essential in how we not only show respect but support. Think about how you approach conflict or differences of opinion. Are you displaying curiosity and open-mindedness in how you respond to others? Try incorporating more phrases like \u201cDo you mind if we continue to explore this?\u201d and \u201cI know that didn\u2019t go well, but that\u2019s OK\u201d into your toolbox\/backpack of wisdom<\/a><\/span>. Using language to demonstrate that you care about collaboration can build a more nurturing and open environment for everyone around you.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Strive for excellence, not perfection.<\/strong> I used to be a perfectionist. Until a business coach of mine observed that my need for perfection was driving people away. I changed my ways overnight. As leaders, we cannot expect our teams to complete their work exactly how we would. There is growth in evaluating the process and finding room for improvement. Beyond not expecting perfection from our teams, we cannot expect it from ourselves. Being vulnerable means allowing yourself to make mistakes and others to see those mistakes. When our teams feel safe to fail, they are more likely to take chances that lead to excellence.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Embrace curiosity.<\/strong> Curiosity breeds compassion, and compassion is how we find common ground. Every time I jump to a conclusion about someone, I make myself a note to have coffee with that person. You don\u2019t know what people are going through or the type of day they are having. I know I will feel differently about them once I understand them more. At the same time, practicing gratitude<\/a><\/span> can help shift your outlook from one of assumption to curiosity and see the world and people through a more understanding lens. People remember how you interact with them, so making connections to the whole person \u2014 not just the work person \u2014 is valuable.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Be human.<\/strong> No matter what industry you\u2019re in or your role in it \u2014 yes, even if you\u2019re not in human resources \u2014 your job is about people and building relationships with people helps get your job done. Connecting with people is also a great way to enjoy your work more. How do you better connect with people? By being vulnerable, showing your humanity and exercising compassion. As leaders, our teams need to feel comfortable coming to us with struggles. They are more likely to feel comfortable knowing that we are also learning, growing, falling and picking ourselves back up.<\/p>\n

The Take-Away:<\/strong> When we improve our leadership skills, we not only better ourselves but positively impact the people who work alongside us. As you develop your leadership goals for 2023, ask yourself:<\/p>\n