Summer camp is drawing near, and as is tradition I will be opening the entertainment on Friday evening. I’ve just found out the theme for 2012 is disco, did I ever tell you how much I hate disco? My spare moments are currently cluttered with The Bee Gees, Abba, and if that wasn’t enough, The Village People! I’m sorely tempted to squeeze in Disco Man by The Damned and Disco 2000 by Pulp just to try and hang on to my sanity.
Over the years I’m slowly learning to enjoy these performances, primarily because I’m learning to love the vulnerability that comes with putting yourself out there. I feel the same way about my ongoing art and painting project, and though I cringe a little every time I push the ‘publish button’ on a new piece of work, I’m equally stimulated because my learning is evolving.
In the world of work, I’m noticing it is slowly becoming OK to talk more about, and express vulnerability. It’s a hugely powerful way to demonstrate leadership and show, through demonstrating your own vulnerability, that it can be OK to make, and admit to, mistakes. Mistakes that we all can learn from. Too often I speak with Chief Execs and others who demonstrate bluster and swagger in public, yet show uncertainty which sadly often manifests itself in defensiveness and anger, in private. I have a little sympathy as too often, these people are fed lines that other people think they want to hear. And they are also responsible for their own actions. A lack of dialogue with front line staff and customers will do that to you.
Vulnerability is, I believe, an essential human quality. Without it we are prey to arrogance, over confidence and the kind of chest beating and hooraying that maybe, just maybe, does us more harm than good.
In case you are interested, my disco performance is on June 29th. Watch this space – I Will Survive 😉
