Being vulnerable doesn’t mean you’re weak. It actually means you are confident enough to tell others you’re not perfect. By showing your full self, you are able to connect with others, improve the quality of your network and prevent future burn-out.

Connecting

Have you really admired the way of working of let’s say a manager or a colleague? You think to yourself, he/she looks like they have it all together. But then you get a chance to grab a coffee with them and they tell you that reaching this level of professionalism was a process. By sharing this, they were vulnerable. This way you could relate to them. Having the courage to show a broad range of experiences has the benefit that you can connect with people on a deeper level. This way your network strengthens. Also, because you showed authenticity, they might consider you when they have a job opening or an exciting project.

Oversharing

Now I’m not telling you to lay out all the details of your deepest insecurities to your boss. Actually, I might even advise against telling your network about all the things you feel you lack. Because even though you might also share your strengths during that conversation, they will only remember the parts where you are lacking. Always stay powerful and confident when telling stories. Consider, in a corporate setting, whether sharing a story is going to help or hurt your career.

Burn-out prevention

As previously mentioned, being vulnerable can be a good way to connect with others in the workplace. In addition, having emotional courage can also be a significant benefit for preventing a future burn-out. Things that might help are: hearing others talk about their struggles, sharing your challenges with a colleague or even being vulnerable towards yourself. As a result, you can implement a strategy that helps to de-stress.

Image: Unsplash, by Alexander Grey