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Leading with Vulnerability: How Leaders Can Build Trust, Drive Performance, and Navigate Change with Jacob Morgan | EP 51

In today’s episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Jacob Morgan, a bestselling author of five books and a renowned futurist and keynote speaker. His latest book, Leading with Vulnerability: Unlock Your Greatest Superpower to Transform Yourself, Your Team, and Your Organization, dives deep into how leaders can embrace vulnerability to build trust and drive business success.

Why Jacob Morgan Wrote This Book

In recent years, thought leaders like Brené Brown have popularized discussions around vulnerability. However, Jacob found that vulnerability in a professional setting differs from vulnerability in personal life. Many CEOs and business leaders he spoke with shared concerns that vulnerability, if not handled correctly, can backfire—eroding confidence and trust in leadership.

Jacob’s key insight? Vulnerability alone is not enough. Leaders must pair it with leadership and accountability to turn it into a powerful tool for connection and performance.

The Right Way to Approach Vulnerability in Leadership

Many people misunderstand what it means to lead with vulnerability. It’s not just about admitting mistakes—it’s about:

✔️ Acknowledging a challenge
✔️ Demonstrating how you’re addressing it
✔️ Taking accountability for improvement

For example, instead of saying, “I messed up on a project,” an effective leader should say, “I made a mistake, but here’s what I learned and here’s how I’ll prevent it from happening again.”

This approach builds trust and credibility while reinforcing a leader’s ability to problem-solve.

Vulnerability vs. Competence: Striking the Right Balance

A key takeaway from Jacob’s research is that leaders need both vulnerability and competence.

  • If you focus only on competence → You risk appearing robotic and disconnected.
  • If you focus only on vulnerability → You risk being perceived as weak or incompetent.

Balancing vulnerability and competence allows leaders to connect with their teams while maintaining trust and authority.

Examples of Great Leaders Who Lead with Vulnerability

Jacob shares several real-world examples of leaders who successfully embraced vulnerability in leadership:

📌 Barbara Hampton (CEO, Siemens)

When she stepped into a leadership role at Lockheed Martin, she openly acknowledged her lack of experience. However, she immediately took action—meeting with employees, undergoing training, and committing to learning. She combined openness with action, earning trust and credibility.

📌 Fleetwood Grobbler (CEO, Sasol)

When he took over as CEO, Sasol had $13 billion in debt and was on the brink of collapse. Instead of hiding the situation, he was upfront with employees about the challenges. But he didn’t stop there—he outlined a clear strategy for recovery and inspired employees to rally behind the company’s turnaround. The result? The company successfully rebounded.

These stories highlight a crucial lesson: Vulnerability alone isn’t enough—you need a plan to back it up.

Does Leading with Vulnerability Improve Business Performance?

Yes! Research from the book shows that organizations where leaders effectively balance competence and vulnerability see significant benefits:

3x higher employee engagement
2x more likely to drive innovation
More inclusive workplace cultures
Better ability to manage remote teams
Greater resilience in times of uncertainty

Leaders who embrace vulnerability strategically are perceived as higher-quality leaders and foster stronger teams.

How Can Leaders Assess Their Vulnerability?

To evaluate whether you are leading with vulnerability, ask yourself two key questions:

1️⃣ Am I competent in my role? (Do my team members trust my decisions and expertise?)
2️⃣ Do I connect with my employees on a human level?

Leaders can get feedback through direct conversations, engagement surveys, and peer evaluations.

Who Should Read This Book?

Anyone with a job! But especially:

✔️ Current and aspiring leaders
✔️ People who want to build trust and credibility
✔️ Employees looking to grow in their careers
✔️ HR professionals and business strategists

Leading with Vulnerability isn’t just for CEOs—it’s for anyone who wants to advance in their career and build stronger professional relationships.

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