Dare to Be Vulnerable: Building Trust and Inspiring Teams

“Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness.” – Brené Brown.

Vulnerability is a scary-sounding word. It makes you believe that you have no control over life and that there is no safe place where you can be because harm can come in your direction at any moment.

But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Vulnerability is a superpower that leaders can wield. By embracing vulnerability, you can actually be a strong leader.

Think about the courage and strength that it takes to acknowledge that you don’t know everything and ask for help, that you are scared of the future, or that maybe you are not as ready as you thought for your new role. All this takes courage. So, when you are vulnerable, you are courageous and strong. Someone who is not courageous and strong would not have the courage to acknowledge their vulnerability.

How to Differentiate between Self-confidence and Arrogance

Scientific research shows that human beings are not always good at evaluating the true qualities of leadership, and are even occasionally attracted to the arrogant confidence that some leaders exhibit. Arrogance is often a sign of weakness, and people who display it create toxic workplaces and make decisions that put others at risk.

Sometimes, confidence and arrogance are confused, especially when the people who judge it this way have low self-esteem. For them, any demonstration or expression of internal strength is perceived negatively. These types of people cannot tolerate that others have presence, independence of spirit, or that they go through life without asking for permission. In these cases, it is a projection of the observer’s own envy, unable to bear the sight of others exhibiting behaviors they envy and that are beyond their abilities. Instead of looking at their own flaws and resolving them, they prefer to harshly judge and criticize those who are able to do what they only dream of and do not have the courage to do.

Interrogation Vs. Conversation

This is a guest post by Sean Glombowski. I previously worked with Sean and stayed connected with him. When I saw his LinkedIn post about the job hunt, I knew I had to get him to share. Thankfully, he did. I’m proud to introduce you to Sean today and hope you take something away from his article.

Merriam-Webster defines Interrogation as: “a formal and systematic questioning”. They also define Conversation as: “oral exchange of sentiments, observations, opinions, or ideas”. Now that we know what the definition of each is I pose the question of, what method is best for interviewing potential candidates for a new position?

Teamwork and Leadership Lessons from the Little League World Series

This year, 2022, is the 75th Anniversary of the Little League World Series.  After a COVID cancellation in 2020 and the United States only competition in 2021, a full roster of 10 U.S. and 10 International Teams are competing this year.  In late August, the Little League World Series presents outstanding examples of athletic competition, drama, the exceptional talent of 11 and 12-year-old players from around the world, and sportsmanship at the highest level.  Interestingly, there are some fascinating lessons for teams and team leaders in addition to the on-the-field performances.  There’s even a good message for job seekers on effectively presenting their team accomplishments on their resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and during interviews.

Do You Want to Write a Book?

Do You Want to Write a Book?

Four Questions, Four Actions, and Four Commitments

If you are a leader who has been considering writing a nonfiction book to share your expertise with others, you may want to consider the following questions, actions, and commitments as you sort through the right timing, content, publishing approach, and promotion plans.

Writing a book can be an excellent way to build your brand and reputation and the best thing about it is that you don’t need to write it yourself. You can read more about ghostwriting a book in this article by Freelance Writing Jobs.

What unique experiences and ideas do you want to share?

Because there are millions of books on Amazon, the more you can differentiate your ideas from others, the more likely you will be to gain interest and attention. Sharing your own stories and unique perspectives can make your nonfiction book more captivating. Incorporate as much of your authentic voice as you can.