How to Strategically Infuse Vulnerability into Your Business
How Vulnerability Shows up in My Life
For years, I’ve been sharing my vulnerabilities and struggles as a business owner. I’ve also shared experiences our family went through when we had our daughter. I’ve always used the experience of sharing the struggles as a way of me dealing with the struggles in my life. Where I see the value is that in sharing these experiences, I am able to reflect and grow from them as well. I believe that by embracing this vulnerability, it also shows my depth of experience through hard moments. It shows a deeper understanding of what it means to navigate difficult situations and that no matter how big the obstacle, there is a way forward.
Why Vulnerability in Marketing is Your Secret Weapon
I’ve always considered vulnerability an asset but not everyone does, especially in business. I believe this vulnerability leads to deeper connections. As AI starts to play a bigger role in our lives, I believe that now more than ever that we need to embrace this vulnerability in business if we truly want to stand out. It is your secret weapon.
Vulnerability in marketing is not a common trend you see, especially for larger companies. In today’s day and age however, I believe we should strive to make it commonplace in the workplace. It not only brings the humanity back to the workplace but it also helps to increase the level of fulfillment in your work.
Here is why vulnerability is so powerful.
An interesting fact is that by strategically incorporating vulnerability into your business practices, you can create a more authentic, innovative, and resilient company where employees feel valued and supported. It would not be a stretch to understand how outcomes could in turn improve because you’ve enabled a space for your team to thrive.
Techniques to infuse vulnerability.
Infusing vulnerability into your business strategically involves creating an environment where openness, honesty, and emotional transparency are valued and encouraged. This approach can lead to a more authentic, connected, and resilient company. Here are a few ways you can start to infuse it into your business.
Leadership Vulnerability: It starts at the top. It may feel like a weakness but sharing challenges, failures, and uncertainties not only creates a more open workplace but it also builds trust and better lines of communication. Your team understands business challenges and are not caught off guard when changes to the business occur. When leaders are open about their own imperfections, it also sets a tone for the rest of the company.
Create a Safe Space: Fostering an environment where employees feel safe to share their thoughts, feelings, and challenges without fear of judgment or retribution leads to healthier and in many cases, more productive teams. This can be achieved through policies you establish and implement, regular check-ins, and a supportive atmosphere.
Encourage Open Communication: Promote open and honest communication. Encourage team members to express their ideas, concerns, and feedback. This ensures that issues are dealt with versus bubbling under the surface. This could be facilitated through regular meetings, anonymous suggestion boxes, or open forums.
Normalize Failure: Frame failure as a learning opportunity rather than a setback. Celebrate the lessons learned from failures and encourage employees to take calculated risks. This approach helps to remove the stigma associated with making mistakes.
Training and Development: Provide training on emotional intelligence, effective communication, and empathy. This helps employees to better understand and express their own vulnerabilities and to respond appropriately to others. Brene Brown’s work on vulnerability is a great starting point.
Inclusive Decision-Making: Involve employees in decision-making processes where appropriate. This not only values their input but also shows trust in their judgment, encouraging them to be more open and involved.
Promote Work-Life Balance: Encourage employees to take care of their mental and physical health. Acknowledge that personal life can affect work and vice versa, and provide support where needed.
Recognize and Appreciate Efforts: Acknowledge the efforts of employees, even when the outcomes are not as expected. Recognizing the courage it takes to try something new or challenging can reinforce a culture of vulnerability.
Build Trust through Consistency: Consistently apply policies and show that the leadership is committed to maintaining a culture of openness and vulnerability. Trust is built over time through consistent actions.
Employee Support Programs: Implement programs that offer support for personal and professional challenges. This could include counseling services, mentorship programs, and group coaching.
Feedback Mechanisms: Regularly solicit and act upon feedback from employees regarding the workplace culture and their sense of safety in being vulnerable.
Storytelling: Encourage storytelling where team members share their experiences and challenges. This not only helps in learning from each other but also strengthens team bonds.
Although it may seem like a lot of areas to consider, any SMALL steps towards implementation will create the framework for a healthier company. I believe more conversations around this topic will become more critical as time goes on.