This article is the first of many of The Authentic Leadership Quest. In this first piece I write about the importance of embracing vulnerability as a leader towards fostering a learning organisation.
There are two terms in the above statement that I will define; vulnerability and learning organisation.
Vulnerability
It is worth mentioning that the term vulnerable is, more often than not, connotated to weakness. It is nearly impossible to define the word vulnerable without giving reference to the word weakness or its synonyms.
Vulnerability is willingness to show emotion or to allow one’s weaknesses to be seen or known.
I appreciate how Criss Jami put it, “to share your weakness is to make yourself vulnerable; to make yourself vulnerable is to show your strength”.
Vulnerability comes in four variants, namely; human-social, physical, economic and environmental. In my next article I will delve deeper into these four types.
Learning organisations
The organisation is comprised of the people that function together towards a common objective. A learning organisation is not a new trend; however, it is a valuable concept because learning has no end, more so in an era in which ongoing transformation takes place rapidly.
Therefore, it could be said that a learning organisation is one that is highly adaptive, embraces change and drives continuous learning. Getsmarter.com wrote, “Learning in its most basic form is about absorbing new information and knowledge.
To become a learning organisation means more than acquiring knowledge: it’s about reframing previous learnings from experience, encouraging healthy curiosity, and being agile and diligent in knowledge sharing.”
Learning is a continuous process through which shortcomings are turned into strengths and struggles are modelled into capabilities. A learning organisation is essentially an organisational culture.
Vulnerability fostering a learning organisation
The culture of an organisation is shaped by its leaders. What the leader genuinely values, will be expressed through the way they work with- and treat people.
A leader who perceives vulnerability as a weakness guards their own shortcomings and struggles, which in turn facilitates a culture that frowns on and despises vulnerability. Where vulnerability is suppressed, a culture of ideal persona of people who rely on perfection without fail is promoted.
A learning organisation is fostered by, among other things, vulnerability in leadership. “Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.”, Brené Brown.
Embrace it.
*Chaze Nalisa is the Founder of Pink Empowerment www.pinkempowerment.org
