In this episode, Kate Johnson and Peggy Mark explore vulnerability as an intentional leadership choice rather than a personality trait. Listeners will learn how openness, self-awareness, and authenticity create trust, strengthen human connection, and support healthier workplace cultures. Through personal stories and practical reflection, the conversation reframes vulnerability as bravery and a critical skill for leaders who want to lead well.

Key takeaways:

Why vulnerability is a conscious leadership decision

How openness builds trust and credibility

The role of self-awareness in effective leadership

Why vulnerability is not the same as weakness

How admitting mistakes strengthens leadership presence

The impact of authenticity on workplace culture

Navigating conflict without losing compassion

Balancing strength and softness as a leader

How vulnerability supports learning and growth

What brave leadership looks like in practice

Timestamps:

[0:00:05] Introduction to Podcast & Guest

[0:01:16] Defining Vulnerability in Leadership

[0:03:12] Self-Awareness and Leadership Starting Point

[0:05:44] Peggy’s Personal Journey to Vulnerability

[0:09:41] Affirmation of Positive Leadership Impact

[0:09:53] Story: Vulnerability During Emotional Crisis

[0:12:07] Creating Safe Spaces & Two-Way Vulnerability

[0:20:18] Balancing Vulnerability vs. Over-Sharing

[0:29:06] Fear, Boundaries, and Unpredictable Outcomes

[0:35:21] Leadership Success Story from Emergency Department

In this episode, leaders will learn why vulnerability is not a weakness but a critical leadership skill. The conversation explores how openness, honesty, and the willingness to share both successes and failures directly influence trust, psychological safety, and team performance. Listeners will gain practical insight into how vulnerable leadership improves communication, strengthens relationships, and creates environments where people feel safe to contribute fully.

Special thanks to Kim Rohrer for sharing her time and insights this week. Kim is a storyteller and connector who has dedicated her career to creating values-driven corporate cultures and innovative approaches to HR. Founder of Patchwork Portfolio, she blends her expertise and creativity to help leaders communicate with employees, customers, and communities. She shares her insights and experiences at icaretoomuch.substack.com  

You can connect with her on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimrohrer/ 

And explore her business website here: https://www.patchworkportfolio.com/

Timestamps:

[0:00:03] - Podcast Introduction & Theme Overview

[0:00:50] - Explanation of 'Other Voices' Segment

[0:01:46] - Gallup Research on Leadership & Vulnerability

[0:02:20] - Importance of Humanity in Leadership

[0:03:26] - Kim Rohr’s Introduction

[0:04:00] - Reluctance of Leaders to Show Vulnerability

[0:05:20] - Impact of Hiding Failures/Challenges at Work

[0:06:41] - Summary of Kim’s Perspective: Vulnerability’s Role in Team Dynamics

[0:06:48] - Four Inspirational Quotes on Vulnerability

[0:09:01] - Podcast Closing and Next Episode Preview

Keywords:

vulnerability in leadership, leadership trust, psychological safety, employee engagement, authentic leadership, workplace trust, leadership communication, Gallup research, innovation at work, human-centered leadership

This episode explains why vulnerability is a foundational leadership skill and how leading well begins with self-leadership, self-awareness, and the courage to be human. You’ll learn what vulnerability actually means in a leadership context, why it strengthens trust rather than weakening authority, and how leaders can practice vulnerability in practical, appropriate ways that support their teams and work.

Key takeaways

Why leadership does not require perfection

How vulnerability builds trust and credibility at work

The difference between vulnerability and oversharing in leadership

Why self-leadership and self-awareness come first

How owning mistakes strengthens leadership effectiveness

Timestamps

0:00:00 Leadership Paradox: Humanity vs. Perfection

0:01:05 Essential Leadership Mindsets Introduced

0:02:14 Self-Leadership and Vulnerability Defined

0:03:50 Story: Leadership Mistake and Vulnerability

0:07:08 Examples: Vulnerability in Practice

0:08:52 Vulnerability Enables Caring Leadership

0:09:35 Navy SEAL Story: Trust Through Vulnerability

0:11:20 Vulnerability as Bravery, Not Weakness

0:12:38 Closing: Podcast Support and Future Topics

Keywords

Looking ahead: The comfy chairs becomes The Well-Led Podcast

In this final episode of the year, Kate returns with a clear, simple update about the show’s evolution. On January 6th, the comfy chairs will officially relaunch as The Well-Led Podcast, beginning a year-long journey focused on the four essential domains of leadership: Demonstrating Care, Providing Support, Leading with Grace, and Staying Focused on Action.

Kate revisits what’s changing, what remains steady, and why this new structure matters. Listeners will hear about the monthly theme model, the “Notes on Leading Well” format, and the practical tools that will anchor each week. She also previews January’s theme—vulnerability—and how it sets the tone for leading well in the months ahead.

This episode closes the chapter on one season of the podcast and gently opens the door to what’s next. It’s a moment of gratitude, clarity, and optimism for leaders who want to step into the new year with intention.

Culture Keepers: A conversation about managing versus leading.

In this conversation, Kate sits down with Layci Nelson, founder of the Transcend Leadership Collective, to explore a deceptively simple question with big implications: What’s the real difference between managing and leading?

Together, they unpack why effective leadership isn’t about choosing one or the other—it’s about integrating both. Layci emphasizes that leaders need fluency in two domains: the operational competence that keeps work moving and the visionary clarity that keeps people aligned and inspired.

They dig into the value of understanding project management basics, paying attention to the details that shape team experience, and staying close enough to the work to remove friction meaningfully. Layci also shares a compelling story of a CEO who transformed his leadership approach by reconnecting with his employees—ultimately improving alignment, engagement, and satisfaction across the organization.

The conversation also returns to core values: how they anchor decision-making, guide behavior, and keep leaders steady when things speed up, slow down, or veer unexpectedly.

www.one23ltd.com

https://www.instagram.com/one23ltd/

Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay

Revisit & enjoy: Early, direct, and well-structured conversations

As we near the end of the year, we’re resurfacing one of the most practical and personal conversations we’ve shared on the comfy chairs. In this rerun, Kate sits down with her dad, Charlie—a leader with decades of experience in higher education, the military, and church governance—to talk about why early, direct, and kind confrontation is one of the most underrated leadership skills.

This episode explores:

If you’re avoiding a hard conversation (or carrying one into the new year), this episode is a steady reminder that clarity and kindness aren’t opposites—they’re partners.

Additional resources mentioned during our conversation:

www.one23ltd.com

https://www.instagram.com/one23ltd/

Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay

Revisit & enjoy: Making sense of leadership, management, and the feedback we’d rather avoid

As we wind down the year, we’re resurfacing one of the most downloaded comfyHQ episodes—a listener favorite about three things leaders wrestle with all the time: feedback, the leadership/management divide, and the workplace words we toss around without checking for shared meaning.

In this rerun, we explore:

If you’re navigating end-of-year reviews or gearing up for planning season, this episode offers a practical reset: clearer language, steadier leadership, and a healthier way to think about feedback.

Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay

In this special update, Kate shares an important announcement about the future of the podcast. Beginning in January 2026, the comfy chairs will officially become The Well-Led Podcast—a show dedicated to helping leaders stay grounded, self-aware, and effective in the moments where professionalism meets imperfection.

Kate walks through what’s changing, what’s staying the same, and why now is the right time to transition into a more intentional, structured model. She also introduces the new monthly and quarterly format, a year-long leadership curriculum, and an expanded set of voices and conversations.

Plus: exciting news about the show joining the WRKdefined Podcast Network in 2026.

Pull Them Close: A Conversation about Grief

As we move into the holiday season—a time that can amplify both joy and tenderness—we’re revisiting one of our most meaningful conversations on the comfy chairs. In this encore episode, host Kate Johnson welcomes Justin Clifford, CEO of Bereave, for a heartfelt exploration of how workplaces can better support employees navigating grief and loss.

Together, Kate and Justin unpack the critical role of compassionate bereavement practices—especially during a season when grief can feel sharper, and the need for understanding grows. Justin shares actionable insights for managers and leaders, from building empathy through intentional training to crafting inclusive policies that honor the diverse realities of modern families.

This revisit also highlights the transformative power of vulnerability in leadership. Justin underscores the importance of modeling self-care and creating spaces where employees feel seen and supported through life’s hardest seasons. He offers tools and resources to help organizations build cultures of care—reminding us that supporting grief at work isn’t simply about resilience; it’s about honoring our shared humanity.

Additional resources mentioned during our conversation:

Got something on your mind? A tricky situation at work? A leadership topic you’re curious about? Share your questions here: https://www.one23ltd.com/comfyhq

www.one23ltd.com

https://www.instagram.com/one23ltd/

Inviting Input: A conversation about co-creating the workplace.

In this conversation, Kate sits down with Patrick Farran, PhD—co-founder and CEO of Ad Lucem Group—to explore the leadership practices that help teams move from compliance to genuine engagement. Patrick introduces appreciative inquiry as a strengths-based discipline built on better questions: ones that draw out what’s already working and create the conditions for more of it.

Together, Kate and Patrick unpack why purpose matters so deeply in leadership (and what happens when leaders drift away from it), how co-creation honors human dignity, and why people support what they help build. They swap practical examples—from job crafting to “input windows” during times of change—and name the tension leaders often feel between offering clarity and inviting shared ownership.

Patrick also offers a preview of his forthcoming book, The Intentional Executive, including the research behind it and the frameworks leaders can use to practice purpose-driven, strengths-aligned leadership.

Additional resources and researchers mentioned during our conversation:

Got something on your mind? A tricky situation at work? A leadership topic you’re curious about? Share your questions here: https://www.one23ltd.com/comfyhq

www.one23ltd.com

https://www.instagram.com/one23ltd/

Music by Geoff Harvey from Pixabay