Forget a book club, this is a CHAPTER club: ‘Rumbling with Vulnerability’ by Brene Brown

I loved the positive response to my query about a Millennial Leaders' Book Club last year.

But I’ve stalled on progressing it.

I'm sure I'm not the only one to admit my attention span isn’t currently capable of consuming an entire business book. The thought of committing to doing so on a regular basis was bringing up a high level of resistance.  

And I wasn’t sure about whether I wanted to bring a communal Zoom dimension to my reflective reading either.

Then last week I noticed myself recommending a certain chapter in the same book to a number of clients.

This is also my preferred approach to business books. Rather than reading cover to cover,  I like to dip in and out based on the specific themes that are pertinent to me at any given time. 

And I thought to myself, perhaps this could be more helpful. 

A chapter club.

I select a CHAPTER, a handful of pages on a topic that feels relevant and resonant right now. Share some of my favourite takeaways and offer some reflective questions you can wonder about…

So to kick it off, I’m going to start with that chapter that’s currently doing the rounds within the wider HUSTLE + hush network right now.

Dare-to-Lead

From Dare to Lead by Brene Brown
Chapter: Rumbling with Vulnerability

This is a great chapter whether you find yourself right now asking “am I over-sharing?” or at the other end of the spectrum thinking, “I feel very uncomfortable about the thought of having to share this?”.

I love how Brene pulls up here and clarifies what she doesn’t mean by vulnerability.

Specifically, by stating that vulnerability is not:

  • Over-sharing

  • Emotional purging

  • Indiscriminate disclosure

  • Vulnerability for vulnerability’s sake

There are some great quotes:

“Vulnerability minus boundaries is not vulnerability. We have to think about why we’re sharing and, equally important, with whom.”

and:

“Sharing just to share without understanding your role, recognizing your professional boundaries, and getting clear on your intentions and expectations is just purging and venting”.

Reflection Questions: Boundaried Vulnerability

  • Right now as a leader, on a scale of 1-5, where do you find yourself on the sharing spectrum? If 1 is tight-lipped and not sharing anything with anyone, 3 is sharing what I need to, in an appropriate container with clear intentions and 5 is loose-lipped and sharing everything with everyone?

  • How is this approach serving you right now?

  • Where in a work context could you practice co-creating a “container” to facilitate boundaried vulnerability, so that you and the other/s within this space also feel safe and open to share appropriately?

  • What nuances of your role are important to bear in mind in this context? What differences might there be in what you share with your boss, vs peers vs your direct reports?

  • How would implementing boundaries impact your vulnerability and the way you share as a leader?

  • How has your container been forced to adapt to the current virtual working environment?