The Well-led Podcast

Vulnerability and competence: Lessons for effectiveness

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In this episode, you will learn how vulnerability strengthens leadership effectiveness. Rather than treating vulnerability as oversharing or weakness, this lesson clarifies it as a leadership competency grounded in judgment, boundaries, and self-awareness.  We translate vulnerability into observable behaviors leaders can practice immediately, outlining what it can look like in day-to-day leadership. You will leave with concrete behaviors you can apply immediately, along with strategies for managing the emotional cost of leading openly without burning out.

Download the one-page resource: Leading with Vulnerability without Burning Out



Key takeaways

  • Vulnerability is a leadership competency that requires choice and intention
  • Withholding vulnerability increases silence, self-protection, and disengagement on teams
  • Leaders can show vulnerability by owning mistakes, admitting limits, and sharing context
  • Thoughtful vulnerability strengthens credibility rather than undermining competence
  • Boundaries, judgment, and timing are essential to practicing vulnerability well
  • Leaders can demonstrate humanity without emotional dumping or loss of authority
  • Vulnerability carries a cost and requires attention to energy and burnout
  • Debriefing, decompression, and reflection help leaders sustain vulnerable leadership


    • Timestamps

    [0:00:00] - Introduction: Vulnerability as Daily Leadership Practice

    [0:01:30] - Vulnerability Cultivates Team Trust & Collaboration

    [0:02:35] - Review of Previous Episodes & Need for Observable Behaviors

    [0:03:30] - Listing Human Characteristics Leaders Face

    [0:05:00] - Examples: Owning Emotions and Managing Illness

    [0:06:40] - Tenderness Toward Teams During Difficult Times

    [0:08:00] - Concrete Ways to Model Vulnerability (Mistakes, Ignorance)

    [0:09:30] - Accepting Feedback and Building Diverse Teams

    [0:11:52] - Managing Costs: Debriefing, Decompression, Reflection

    [0:14:56] - Final Takeaways & Next Topic Preview (Empathy)


    Keywords

    • vulnerability and leadership
    • leadership effectiveness
    • leadership competence
    • psychological safety
    • trust at work
    • human leadership
    • leadership behaviors
    • self-aware leadership
    • workplace culture
    • emotional intelligence
      • ...more
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      The Well-led PodcastBy WRKdefined Podcast Network