- Share Kerry’s own struggles and moments of self-doubt and how they’ve created deeper connections and stronger leadership.
- Outlets: Women’s Agenda, Human Resources Director.
There’s an unspoken expectation leaders have to have it all together. Have all the answers. Be the rock the team can lean on when things get tough. Never make mistakes. Be the poster child for confidence, decisiveness, and control.
Here’s something we forget. Regardless of your leadership style, title or status, you are still a human being. Fallible. With foibles. With fears and doubts. And even though perfectionism is a badge you proudly wear, you aren’t perfect. Just like everyone else. It’s an illusion holding us back more than pushing us forward. The enemy of progress. Best friend inside our comfort zones. It demands everything and gives nothing in return. You can’t be vulnerable and perfect at the same time.
We tend to elevate leaders, putting them on pedestals, expecting them to be flawless, to be immune to the same doubts and challenges everyone else faces. As humans, we ALL make mistakes. The idea that leaders are exempt from being human is not only unrealistic, it’s harmful. When leaders try to hold it all together, bad things happen.
A Deloitte survey found that 82% of CEOs have experienced exhaustion indicative of burnout, and 96% feel their mental health has declined.
Executives report 20% worse work-life balance and 40% more work-related stress and anxiety compared to years.
Research indicates that CEOs who aren’t protected from hostile takeovers live an average of two years less than those who are, with significant downturns in their companies correlating with a two-year reduction in lifespan.
A Businessolver survey revealed that 52% of CEOs believe their company culture is toxic, a 10% increase from the previous year, indicating a growing concern about workplace well-being.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that vulnerability doesn’t have a place in leadership. For a long time, I believed that too. I thought admitting doubt or weakness meant I wasn’t cut out for the job. I’ve learned that self-doubt, mistakes, and moments of vulnerability aren’t signs of weakness, they actually make me a stronger, more relatable leader.
It can be hard to admit when you don’t have all the answers, but when I’ve let my guard down and been honest with my team about my struggles, it’s created a space for them to do the same. They’ve shared their own challenges, their own self-doubts, and in turn, we’ve worked together to find solutions. Being vulnerable with my team has made me realise how much trust is built in those raw, human moments.
We all have moments of vulnerability. At times we face uncertainty and fear, even as leaders. It’s how we respond to those moments. Instead of hiding behind the facade of control and perfection, pretending we have it all together, or pushing aside moments to open up, the opportunity to grow, connect, and lead with genuineness is lost.
What if we embraced vulnerability as a valuable business tool. Vulnerability doesn’t mean sharing the latest argument with your partner or deeply personal things about your life. Vulnerability in business is being open to admitting you’re wrong, making a mistake and not knowing everything. It creates spaces for others to not be perfect and to ask for help.
A study published in the Journal of Business and Psychology said leaders who show vulnerability are seen as more authentic and approachable, and this leads to their team performing better. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science’s research said leaders who admit mistakes and seek feedback create a learning-oriented culture that values continuous improvement over perfection. All good for a company that wants to succeed and grow.
When your team sees you as another human being, you give them permission to make mistakes, to learn from mistakes. That growth comes from being open to learning and evolving. True success is learning from the mess, mistakes, and moments when we dare to be imperfect and let others in.