Showing Strength in Vulnerability

Brené Brown's shares the findings of her research on vulnerability in her Talk Talk: The Power of Vulnerability which is the most listened Ted talk over 15 million downloads. She explains that many people don’t want to discuss shame or vulnerability. In fact, today, people are lonelier, more obese, and more addicted than ever before because they opt to distract or numb themselves rather than address their insecurities or shame.

When people numb their shame and insecurities, they also numb their joy, happiness, love and fulfilment – Living in numbness

 Brené down the various aspects of shame, addresses the importance of vulnerability, and the characteristics of those that she calls the wholehearted people.  

• They have a sense of worthiness of love, 
• They have the courage to be imperfect and vulnerable
• They show compassion to themselves first and then to others, 
• They are authentic in their connections – willing to let go of who they think they should be to be who they truly are.  
• They believe what makes them vulnerable also makes them beautiful.  
• They are willing to be vulnerable, not because it’s easy but because it’s necessary for their own personal growth and to benefit others.

 I personally struggle with certain aspects of vulnerability.  I would probably try everything I possibly can before asking for help.  I’m not sure where that stems from.  It could be from societal glorification  of independence for those that do everything on their own.  

Also being a black woman, not feeling safe enough to be vulnerable, I’ve learned to keep my guard up.   Always appearing that I have it all-together as a survival mechanism . 

But in business, and life this’s not a good thing.  Asking for help and saying I don’t know how to do this will save you so much time and frustrations.

In business Vulnerability is a word that has been heavily misunderstood.

I find that lack of vulnerability is what stops so many people from pursuing entrepreneurship.  I often hear people say, I don’t want to put myself out there!  What will people think of me? What if I get rejected!

For so many of us, this becomes the thing that stops us from venturing out and trying new things at the risk of looking like a failure.

People seem to associate being vulnerable with being weak, fragile, powerless, or exposed.

What we’re not taught about vulnerability is that it can be used in business as a source of strength to connect with your clients, employees and partners on a deeper level.

When you recognize how to strategically apply vulnerability in your business, you will actually strengthen your connections and engagement

I observe people who use vulnerability the right way in business and I see how it makes them magnetic. When you use it the right way, you become more attractive and you look stronger; people want to be around you and engage with you.

Think of your own experiences with the people you know.  Your family, friends, co-workers, or boss, do you like those people that always seem like they have all the answers, never showing any vulnerability or their human side?

Do you enjoy being around them? Same is true for your business and as an entrepreneur.

In essence, using vulnerability as a strength is when you can share a story of sensitive nature while empowering the person on the receiving end of the story.

Think of a tough situation you’ve had to deal with in your life that you were able to overcome. There're many ways you can hare this story. The key element  is to highlight the challenge and  how you overcame. That’s your story!  

I'd love to hear from you! How are you choosing to be vulnerable tod