Vulnerability: The Leadership Superpower
For a long time, I believed vulnerability was something to hide. Something personal, emotional, maybe even messy—best kept behind closed doors. In my years leading teams and projects, navigating high-stakes negotiations, and working in traditional business cultures, I internalised the message many of us do: Don’t show weakness. Stay in control. Be the one who knows.
But life—and leadership—has taught me something very different. Vulnerability is not the opposite of strength. It is strength.
What changed for me was not a single dramatic event, but a growing inner tension. Despite achieving a lot on the outside—career milestones, performance metrics, leadership roles—something inside me felt disconnected. I realised that I was showing up in the world as a version of myself, but not my full self. I was polished. Professional. But not present. And certainly not vulnerable.
So I began an inner journey. Not because it sounded appealing, but because it was necessary. And through that process—through coaching, reflection, training, and facing my own discomfort—I found what I had resisted for so long: the power of vulnerability.
Vulnerability doesn’t mean oversharing. It doesn’t mean being emotional all the time or lacking boundaries. It means having the courage to be seen—as you are. To show up not with all the answers, but with honesty. It means being present with your team, with your clients, with your family—and with yourself.
In fact, some of the most powerful leadership moments I’ve ever experienced came not from control or certainty—but from someone daring to say:
“I don’t know, but I’ll figure it out.”
“This is hard for me right now.”
“I need help.”
“Here’s what really matters to me.”
The moment you allow yourself to be real is the moment others can connect with you. It creates trust. It invites courage. It deepens presence. And especially in times of change or uncertainty, it gives people something far more valuable than direction—it gives them connection.
In my coaching today, I often see how hard this still is for many leaders. They’re brilliant, capable, driven—and they’ve learned to survive by staying strong. But what got us here won’t get us there. The next level of leadership isn’t about more control. It’s about more clarity, more presence—and more willingness to lead with heart.
So here’s what I believe now:
Vulnerability is not the enemy of excellence. It’s the entry point to real leadership.
You don’t lose credibility by being honest. You gain trust.
Showing up fully is not a risk. It’s your greatest asset.
And for me personally, vulnerability has become a daily practice. It means slowing down enough to feel. To reflect. To tell the truth—to myself and to others. And every time I do, I find that the quality of my relationships improves. My energy becomes clearer. And I lead—not from pressure, but from presence.
We live in a world that prizes productivity, confidence, and certainty. But the leaders I admire most aren’t those who always appear strong—they’re the ones who are real. Who stay human. Who create safe spaces where others can grow.
And that starts within.
With presence,
Gerhard