28.11.2024 Today’s Insights from McKinsey Quarterly – Shifting Leaders’ Focus from Proving to Improving
Dear Students,
On the long list of skills you might expect to see among successful global business leaders, it’s unlikely you would think to look for the term “vulnerability.” While the original definition of this word was “the ability to be wounded (which some leaders still sadly regard as meaning),” it’s come to signify sharing weaknesses, imperfections and even hesitations, in the interest of authenticity (discussed in yesterday’s article), transparency, and relatability.
Simply put, you and your friends may well tend to trust leaders who seem “real,” imperfect and genuine.
But how does a leader – or an aspiring leader like you, as an ambitious international student – arrive at a place to feel comfortable enough being vulnerable? The McKinsey article below provides some hints. Within this piece, the authors mention a host of power skills in our program, which our coaches know well, including self-reflection, self-awareness, an open mindset (and flexibility to act on this), and especially a continuous learning orientation.
As the authors point out, vulnerability in a global business context doesn’t mean abandoning leadership skills, negotiation or conflict management, but rather displaying the self-confidence, perceived “risk-taking” and courage to be curious about and open to ways to strengthen relationships. Vulnerability doesn’t mean you being weak, but rather “being in touch with what engages your emotions and knowing how to direct those feelings into positive energy. It means being willing to be moved by others as you share hopes and concerns in a way that invites support.” (Admittedly, doing so can feel especially uncomfortable for young men, who may have been taught to “always appear strong”).
You will find that the willingness to apologize to others is powerful to Western colleagues, too, along with the concept of a “to be” list, with its focus on improving vs. proving yourself. As hospital executive Michael Fisher shares above, “…we’re human beings, and people want to work with real people who are transparent, authentic, and who role model the behaviors and values of the team and institution.”
Some great “food for thought” as we head into the long weekend filled with the “food of gratitude.”
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.🦃
Best,
Amy-Louise