Vulnerability and Leadership: Why It’s a Strength, Not a Weakness

When discussing core leadership strengths today, words like vision, integrity, confidence, strategic planning, excellent communication, delegation, trustworthiness, and courage are common responses. A quick Google search this morning surfaced all these attributes.

While this list is by no means exhaustive, I believe it’s missing one critical leadership quality: vulnerability. In this article, we’ll explore why vulnerability is not a weakness, but a leadership strength.

Understanding Vulnerability

Let’s be honest — we all experience moments of vulnerability. Whether it's sharing uncomfortable truths with loved ones or delivering a high-stakes presentation to senior management, we’ve all felt exposed at some point.

The truth is, no one is perfect, and vulnerability is a universal experience. However, leaders are often put on a pedestal, leading to the misconception that showing vulnerability is unacceptable. How often do we hear Olympic gold medallists talk about weaknesses without following up with something like, “I need to work harder” or “focus on my mental strength”? The message they’re sending is clear: weakness is not acceptable, and the focus should always be on building more strengths.

Historically, the business world has shared this view, treating vulnerability as a weakness. But I disagree, and here’s why.

Vulnerability and Leadership

In recent years, this view has been shifting. Brené Brown, a leading researcher on vulnerability, argues that it’s a crucial leadership quality and one of the key strengths for a successful leader in today’s business world.

Brown defines vulnerability as "uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure," emphasising that it takes real courage for leaders to be vulnerable.

Why is Vulnerability Important for Leaders?

Brown’s research shows that vulnerability is at the heart of social connection. For leaders, this doesn’t mean being weak or submissive — it means having the courage to be authentic. Instead of maintaining a professional distance, vulnerability involves embracing uncertainty, taking risks, and being emotionally open.

From a leadership perspective, being vulnerable means being comfortable with uncertainty while maintaining a sense of control within an organisation. Leaders who display vulnerability can take risks, knowing that sometimes they will succeed and, other times, they will not — and that’s okay.

When Should a Leader Show Vulnerability?

The truth is that leaders encounter opportunities to show vulnerability every day. Examples include:

• Calling an employee whose child is unwell
• Reaching out to a colleague who has suffered a family loss
• Asking for help when needed
• Taking responsibility for mistakes at work
• Sitting by the bedside of an employee with a terminal illness
• Asking your team for feedback on your strengths and weaknesses to improve as a leader
•  

How to Show Vulnerability as a Leader

It’s important to remember that showing vulnerability doesn’t mean oversharing or expressing every emotion. Leaders need to maintain boundaries. For instance, several years ago, a close friend of mine managed a team undergoing an organisational review that lasted nearly two years. During this time, she supported her team through their concerns about redundancy without ever expressing her own fears about her future to them — she saved those conversations for close friends and family.

As Simon Sinek puts it:

“A leader, first and foremost, is a human. Only when we have the strength to show our vulnerability can we truly lead.”

 

Final Thoughts

While vulnerability as a leadership trait might still be considered controversial by some, it’s becoming clear that vulnerability is a strength — not a weakness. Embracing this quality can help leaders foster stronger, more authentic connections with their teams, driving trust and performance.

What do you think? Does vulnerability play a role in leadership in your experience?

Many thanks,

Alex & The Excel Team

P.S. If you would like to discuss any of your other learning & development challenges, book in your discovery call.

About Excel Communications

Excel Communications is a learning and development consultancy based near London in the U.K. For more than 30 years; we have been collaborating with clients across the globe.  

Partnering with Excel empowers you to evolve your people and business by fuelling a love for learning.   

We work with you to create unforgettably, customised learning experiences to achieve your vision of success and growth, with tangible results.   

View our case studies here.