Vulnerability Isn't Weakness. It's a Leadership Superpower.

Superpowers at Play... and Work

There was a time in my career when I believed vulnerability had no place in leadership.

I had just stepped into a high-stakes leadership role with big expectations and even bigger learning curves. I remember sitting in a team meeting early on, listening to peers openly acknowledge where they needed help or where they had stumbled. I admired their transparency, but instead of joining in, I doubled down on silence. I nodded, took notes, contributed when it felt “safe,” but I never let my guard down. I didn’t raise my hand to say, “I’m still learning,” or “I could use support here.” I feared being seen as weak. I feared that the minute I showed a crack, it would confirm I wasn’t ready for the role I’d worked so hard to earn.

But here’s what really happened: I didn’t gain more respect by holding it all in. I didn’t grow faster by hiding what I didn’t know. And I certainly didn’t build deeper trust with my team. While others around me were forming strong, authentic connections, sharing their challenges, and growing together, I sat just outside the circle, performing rather than participating.

I missed the opportunity to grow because I was too busy protecting myself.

It took time, reflection, and more than a few gentle nudges from mentors to realize that vulnerability isn’t weakness, it’s courage. And more importantly, it’s a bridge to trust, growth, and connection in both leadership and life.

One of the pivotal moments in that journey came when I attended the Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute, where vulnerability wasn’t just encouraged, it was required. From the very beginning, the message was clear: you cannot grow if you are not willing to be seen. We were challenged to drop the masks, to listen deeply, and to share honestly. The phrase that stuck with me, and still guides me today, was simple but profound: Be a human with a human. That changed everything. It reminded me that leadership isn’t about power or perfection, it’s about presence. And the more I embraced that mindset, the more authentic and impactful my leadership became.

That experience didn’t just shape how I show up as a leader; it fundamentally transformed how I coach others. Today, I help leaders, teams, and professionals lean into vulnerability not as a liability, but as one of their greatest tools for building trust, navigating complexity, and growing with intention. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it.

The Power of Vulnerability in Leadership

When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, especially in leadership, we show others that it’s safe to be human. That it’s okay to not have all the answers. That learning, evolving, and collaborating are more important than maintaining the illusion of perfection.

Leaders who practice vulnerability:

• Build deeper trust because people see them as real

• Foster environments where team members feel safe to speak up

• Model the kind of emotional intelligence that fuels collaboration and resilience

• Create space for shared growth instead of solitary performance

Vulnerability invites others to meet you as they are: messy, brilliant, imperfect, and brave.

Fighting Through the Fear

If you’ve ever felt that tightening in your chest, that second-guessing voice whispering, don’t say it—they’ll think you’re not good enough. Know that you’re not alone. Here are a few strategies that helped me start shifting from guarded to grounded:

1. Name the Fear

Bring it to the surface. Is it fear of judgment? Fear of losing credibility? Get clear on what’s really driving the hesitation. Often, fear loses power when it’s no longer lurking in the background.

2. Start Small

Vulnerability doesn’t mean spilling your life story. It can begin with saying, “I don’t know the answer, but I’m working on it.” or “That didn’t go as planned, and here’s what I learned.” These micro-moments add up.

3. Watch and Learn

Pay attention to those around you who model vulnerability well. What do they do that builds your respect, not lessens it? Use that as your evidence and inspiration.

4. Build Psychological Safety

Create environments where others feel safe to be vulnerable, too. Ask open questions. Listen without fixing. Thank people for their honesty. It starts with modeling, but it sticks when it becomes cultural.

5. Reframe Vulnerability as Strength

Remind yourself: vulnerability is an act of leadership. It shows confidence, not insecurity. It invites others in, rather than keeping them out. The strongest leaders I know are the ones who lead with their full selves, not just their highlight reel.

From Protection to Connection

I eventually learned to show up differently. I started asking for feedback, even when it stung. I admitted when I was overwhelmed. I let people in, little by little. And something incredible happened: my relationships deepened. My confidence became rooted in truth, not performance. And my team? They didn’t lose respect. They stepped up beside me, because I had finally stepped toward them.

If you’re holding back in your leadership or relationships, wondering if vulnerability is worth the risk, I can promise you it is. Vulnerability isn’t about losing power. It’s about sharing it. It’s about opening the door to collaboration, trust, and transformation.

And in doing so, you may just find the version of yourself that’s been waiting to grow all along. You may just find your superpower.