You need to connect in order to collaborate - OliviaPodobea

My name is Mihaela, and I am learning to be vulnerable. 

 

Vulnerability was long considered a weakness, and perhaps you too avoided showing this side of yourself to not be seen as weak. However, I have come to believe that being vulnerable and being able to show it in a way that does not make the other person feel emotionally blackmailed is a strength. 

 

Why do I say this?  

 Because being vulnerable allows you to create connections and remove the masks that keep everyone around you at a distance. From a professional standpoint, vulnerability, in my opinion, means having the strength to admit when you're wrong, being able to say when you don't understand something without feeling embarrassed, and showing your emotions whenever you feel them, albeit in a professional manner. All these elements can create connections between team members, leading to better collaboration in the end. 

 As I've mentioned in past newsletters (from a leadership perspective), more and more companies are looking to move from competition to collaboration, but this process is based on a better connection between team members.  

 From an employee's perspective, I believe that during group meetings, allocating 10 minutes for each person to discuss what is bothering them at that moment, whether on a personal or professional level, and everyone else can join in with advice, encouragement, or simply a few supportive words. Such a moment can create a connection and help to understand the vulnerable sides of colleagues, allowing you to see a different facet of the people you manage. 

 Often, as a leader, you are seen as a strong individual and someone who knows everything and rarely makes mistakes (at least, that's how those in the team you manage see you). Such an image helps you maintain order and, why not, a certain authority, but the moment you share a situation where you made a mistake or a not-so-good decision, you become vulnerable.  

 This brings you closer to other team members and creates a different kind of connection. In such a moment, professional hierarchy is forgotten, and other members see you as a person they can easily come to when they make a mistake, without feeling embarrassed. 

 

What do you think, would you have the courage to be vulnerable in front of your team members knowing that this could lead to better collaboration?