I don’t generally choose to pay much attention to political rhetoric – until this week, when I heard something refreshing – a candidate who took the chance to be a vulnerable leader. A person who took the risk of speaking from the heart instead of from the head.
You probably know who I’m referring to – she’s that democrat in the running. I still consider myself undecided, but I certainly admire what she revealed that day – that she is human, vulnerable and passionate about the difficult choice she has made in her desire to be the top executive. Some might say that this was just another act of political positioning and theatrics. I firmly beg to differ. As someone who reads the energy behind communication – the words, the tone, and most importantly the place where the energy comes from, I perceived that her words came directly from her heart, in the moment and without scripting. Her voice softened and the tears welled up. Her words went straight to my heart.
I wonder if at that moment she suddenly found herself wondering if she had made an impulsive and deadly political mistake. By taking that chance of speaking from the heart, without the script and letting a weak side show, she presented herself as vulnerable. Would she be rejected for it?
Many months ago I chose to engage in some coaching with someone who specializes in developing leaders. As we worked together, I expressed that I wanted to be a vulnerable leader. I don’t think this was a word combination my coach had heard before and I had to explain. To me, being a vulnerable leader is letting your guard down, opening your heart and being true to yourself in word, act and thought. Being vulnerable in the best sense allows the human side to shine through and a solid connection to be made. Being vulnerable is also risky. What if people don’t like what they see and hear? That can be so crushing to the true self. Putting that true self out there and being crushed is so scary that most people never do it – only the incredibly strong ones. The ones who truly love and accept themselves. I choose to be one of those strong ones and it is my mission to cultivate that quality in the people who work with me.
Who knows where the politics are going or how I’ll ultimately vote. What I do know is that I will always be attracted to the vulnerable leader who uses that heart energy to send the pure message. God bless the vulnerable leader.
