For those of you that know me, you are very aware that it’s all out there – I have no problem being vulnerable, or admitting what I don’t know. However, being a woman full of self-doubt, in changing circumstances, I have recently questioned this.
We live in a world that can often feel full of blame, a world I often feel at odds with. A world where people demand certainty, which often means that the art of discussion is something we no longer have time for, or we feel too much discomfort in – ‘blame’ being an action which allows individuals to repress any feelings of discomfort or vulnerability.
I have recently been reading lots of feminist literature, and thanks to a good friend of mine, one such book is Woman on the Edge of Time, by Marge Piercy. Yes, I know – I’m a little late to the party! Written in 1976 this utopian novel explores the idea of a society where technology is used only for social good, where power is minimised and disputes are resolved through discussion, maintaining positive relations, and settled by listening carefully to the value of each idea.
Have we lost the art of listening? Operating in a world that requires instant results, often means the wrong decisions are reached, and many rabbit holes are discovered! We only need to look at the recent leadership debacle in the Tory party to prove that statement!
But more than that, as leaders, we know that innovation is a necessity for survival in a fast-changing world, so we need to get comfortable with being brave, exploring ideas that may sound whack. We need to therefore ensure others can bring their ‘whole’ self to work, that they feel comfortable to fail, comfortable to take risks, comfortable to speak- up. Allowing others to show up as their full authentic selves, means that we need to become ‘excruciatingly vulnerable’ and have the ‘courage to be imperfect.’ Brené Brown.
And in the world of Ru Paul (yes, you all know I’m a super fan!), admire or despise him, he always knew that he could only ever be his authentic self – and being so, in the end, has brought him much accolade and wealth. But there is seriousness in this, one of his many phrases is…..’if you can’t love yourself, how the hell you gonna love someone else’……individuals need that sense of love and belonging and worthiness, leaders need to make sure we provide an environment where they can thrive.
‘Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change’ Brené Brown. As leaders, we need to allow our full selves to be seen, have the courage to connect authentically…….stop hiding and trying to be what you think others expect of you, step up, step out and embrace your vulnerability. Brené’s Ted Talk on this is one of the most watched on the web, you can see why: The Power of Vulnerability
“Go a little bit out of your depth. And when you don’t feel that your feet are quite touching the bottom, you’re just about in the right place to do something exciting.” David Bowie
So, go bare all .....maybe not all.......that may get you into trouble!
Thanks for reading. Take what you will and discard the rest.
Elvie
