Courage and Vulnerability matter!

As Brené Brown wrote in her book, Daring Greatly, "Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness." 

Too often, we think about vulnerability as a weakness instead of a strength that can open new doors where success is only a few steps away. Think of a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who shares their failure story during an executive meeting, encouraging others to do the same, leading to an honest brainstorming session that solves a long-standing, costly problem within the corporation or enterprise.

Think of a manager in a team meeting that does the same. The problem may not be as financially beneficial as what a CEO can do, but can’t the doors that are opened for the team provide long-term benefits for everyone involved?

It is the same with EII (Encouragement, Inspiration and Including others). We may have learned that complimenting someone else means they are better than us, but the truth is that the ability to compliment others shows your true strength. Others who may feel less secure may feel hurt because they did not receive a compliment, but the power goes to you through encouraging others!

Encouragement is when we give someone support, confidence or hope to help them grow or succeed. It is like cheering a friend on or offering kind words to boost their belief in themselves.

Inspiration is sparking someone’s creativity, motivation, or desires to accomplish a goal or objective, personally or professionally, by sharing ideas, stories, or examples of other successes. It is like showing a friend what is possible by igniting their passion to chase their goals.

Including means eliminating past cultures or learnings where too many things were labeled and the label could be negative. A learning could be against an object, idea or person. It can be anything from not liking a type of vehicle, a concept or a person that is different in some way.

We need to “take a ride” in that vehicle, explore new concepts and appreciate that we are also different from others. Invite others into your conversations, listen, and learn their values.

The quote “It is lonely at the top” relates very strongly to this situation. A leader's ability to Encourage, Inspire, and Include others when it is not “in fashion” is a clear sign that the leader's maturity and security are solid. If you were the CEO or the manager, how would you feel if someone complimented you?

We can be vulnerable and let others who are not secure put us down, and they may even try to put the person you complimented down, but the true hero is you. Yes, you, the leader who knows when someone does an excellent job. Who would you prefer to have working for you? Do you prefer an insecure and/or immature person who ridicules another compliment or someone who can also see the value in those around them?

EII is not easy and it requires courage. It is the courage to be open, honest, and willing to share your experiences and uncertainties. As in the CEO and manager example above, the strength to share needed information is a challenge we, as leaders, must overcome.

Parents are also vulnerable. With the internet and the quick learning that our children receive in schools, there is no way a parent can keep up with all the changes, especially in Information technology (IT). We must have the courage to guide our children through questions and shared exploration. We may not know the answer, but our children will enjoy helping us search for it.

At the office or at work, leaders who show their vulnerabilities and courage through their own stresses, ask for input, and value others' contributions and intuitions help the team build confidence and make others greater leaders.

It works socially and in community activities as well. Sharing individual experiences can help those who think they know it all realize that you and they are human. We must stop trying to be super people and be real people instead, people who listen, share and understand.

We must also maintain the courage to overcome skepticism or pushback. For example, when facing resistance, such as colleagues dismissing inclusion efforts as “unnecessary” or family members resisting collaborative problem-solving, we must be strong and caring as we share the value they may not understand yet!

I am not talking about a loud or Braveheart kind of courage; I am talking about the strong yet considerate kind of courage that listens and shares ideas that build camaraderie without letting anything get out of hand.

Embracing something new is not always easy. This improvement promises to improve relationships personally and professionally, but it does not happen overnight. We must have the courage to understand that we all learn at different paces, and change is difficult until we have buy-in.

Courage and vulnerability go hand in hand with EII. They are not a weakness; they are not a flaw to hide or a mistake to fix. They are all the starting point for the greatest growth, connection and leadership.

The best part is that you do not have to do this perfectly. We must be vulnerable and build on our courage to stand out, stand up and stand strong. There are times when Braveheart listened. We must be willing to try, be willing to listen, admit when something is wrong or not working, and invite others to help make it better.

The best part is that the more you are vulnerable and have the courage to listen as you Encourage, Inspire and Include others, the more it will lift you, too!

In conclusion, courage and vulnerability are essential components of EII. They help us embrace innovative ideas, build trust, and create a positive and inclusive environment. Practicing EII daily can unlock the full potential of everyone's unique experiences and perspectives. So, let us ditch the insecurity and start lifting people up. You will be amazed at what happens.

Looking Ahead: A Roadmap for the Next Articles

This article sets the foundation for understanding how EII strengthens connections through vulnerability. Over the next few articles, we will explore various aspects of EII and its powerful role in Accountability, how EII works with the future of DEI, and addresses the resistance to DEI and EII and then closes as EII continues on a valuable journey:

6. EII and Intersectionality: Addressing the unique challenges of intersecting identities.

7. EII and Accountability: Measuring progress and fostering responsibility.

8. EII and the Future of DEI: Inspiring change through action.

9. Addressing Resistance to DEI and EII: Constructive ways to engage skeptics.

10. EII as a Continuous Journey: Sustaining DEI efforts for the long term.

EII transforms ideas into a practice that can be woven into the fabric of everyday life. Through Encouragement, Inspiration, and Inclusion, we can create environments where everyone feels valued, heard, and empowered to thrive. 

Let us take action—Encourage others, Inspire new perspectives, and Include everyone in the conversation. Together, we can build a more united and empowered future.

Your feedback, feed-forward and stories are important. Please send your ideas and stories to me today. I may be able to use them in a future article and award you full credit. We cannot succeed with what we do not know. Reach out today. Go ahead, show your courage, be vulnerable!