Workplace Practices For Courage: Embrace Vulnerability
Courage in the Workplace Series: Workplace Practices For Courage
In this series of writings, my hope is to focus on ways to become courageous and specifically, for practices of courage in the workplace. I will share one workplace practice for courage in hopes of making a difference.
Workplace Practices For Courage: Embrace Vulnerability
Courage: the strength and ability to face difficulty for the sake of the good and right
Everyone can use more courage these days. The courage I am referring to is not violent, loud, or demanding. I have seen that type of “courage” and seems more like regressive patterns of childhood on the playground (“you’re a meany….you stink….you’re poo-poo noo-noo head”). Those are my best recollections of kindergarten taunts.
The courage I am referring to is life changing, transformative, and good. It is the strength and ability to face difficult, uncomfortable challenges for the sake of what is good, true, and right.
Storytime
Growing up, I was terrified of conflict and sharing my real thoughts and feelings. I was afraid of what others would think of me. So I became a people pleaser early on. I learned that if I can please others, then there would be minimal conflict and high praise. I carried this into my 20s and then I had a major crisis. The crisis forced me to make a decision: to please someone else at the expense of my emotional health OR do I finally learn to speak up and share how I feel and what I think.
I had a counselor at the time that was helping me sort through these feelings and I chose to be vulnerable. I embraced it, sharing how I truly felt about the crisis situation. I could feel the weight on my chest being lifted and I felt an inner freedom I had never felt.
The practice of embracing vulnerability is about sharing our real feelings and emotions, even when it is uncomfortable. In the workplace, this might mean setting up a meeting with the manager to share your thoughts and feelings about a discrepancy you see in the workflow or asking for a raise.
Is there a risk involved in embracing vulnerability? Yes! Is it always safe? Absolutely NOT!
This is why it is called courage.
When I embraced vulnerability during the crisis, I learned that I was most likely going to lose friendships and congregational support. That was the risk. But I was also going to gain emotional health because speaking up was the right thing to do. It paid off in the end and it is one of the reasons I am a corporate chaplain today!
Embracing vulnerability requires taking responsibility for what we say and do. It is more about how we are changing than waiting for others to change.
A culture of embracing vulnerability is not easy, but it creates greater organizational health and it might even increase performance and productivity.
You might have insights into something that is being missed.
Your thoughts and feelings about a situation might help to clear up confusion.
Your vulnerability might open the door to new possibilities of growth and change.
Practice: reflect on a workplace challenge you currently have and how you can practice embracing vulnerability. What are your emotions and thoughts about the situation? Write them out. And if the challenge was addressed, how would it benefit all involved? What next steps might you need to take?
