“Amit, what are you afraid of? What’s holding you back from being vulnerable?” My manager Alan said this a decade ago, but it has stuck with me. It was the summer of 2014. I felt excited about my upcoming secondment to Australia. My project was to build the strategy of an important revenue line. The project allowed access to the local leadership team. The GM of Australia, Jeff, was a great people person and a senior leader in Asia Pacific. He ran a big P&L and sat on the regional Executive Committee. His voice carried weight for regional promotions and role transitions. At that time, I was struggling to influence people from other cultures. That was limiting my effectiveness at work. I wanted to learn how Jeff influenced an international team and his regional peers. But I felt uncomfortable being vulnerable with him. I felt that would make him think less of me and hurt my future chances of growth (i.e. promotion). I was afraid of making a bad impression. I spoke to Alan about how I felt. He spotted the discomfort and fear in me. He called me out, and taught me a valuable lesson - "that being vulnerable was a path to grow". Thanks to Alan, I opened up to Jeff and explored my struggles. I found solutions and tips that have helped me since. I built a strong relationship. Being vulnerable can stem from a fear of rejection, judgment or loss of control. But these fears are often exaggerated in our heads. When we observe those fears and address them, we open the door to growth. How do you deal with the discomfort of vulnerability? #vulnerable #communication
Wonderful sharing Amit. Vulnerability with wrong manager could be a disaster in my personal experience :)
Thanks for sharing this Amit Ghosh
I’m loving the honesty in your posts Amit!
Thanks Amit Ghosh - and others who posted. I would also add that there is a larger law of karma always at work...meaning there is a universal intelligence always in charge. In practical terms, being one self, and being in the world (with a reasonable amount of scepticism) is not as straightforward and in fact, is a life's work. Where does one even draw the line between this is me and that is you?! We are relational beings. Others will do what they must and can. And you must do what you must and can. It's those who push the boundaries despite the risk of failing, being exploited and getting burnt, who live a life fulfilled and lead. And yes, they too learn...to become mindful and conscious. Best said by Elvis - And now, the end is near And so I face the final curtain My friend, I'll say it clear I'll state my case, of which I'm certain I've lived a life that's full I traveled each and every byway Oh, and more, much more than this I did it my way Regrets, I've had a few But then again, too few to mention I did what I had to do And saw it through without exemption
[Available] Vietnam Hobo, ɝð<> Edtech R&D; Thầy Giáo Tiếng Anh; Culture; Education; Strategy/Tactics; Unabridged Universal Language Hands-on eyes, ears, mouth, feet, give me a task & I will meet.
1yI've seen it before, a mother bird hobbling on the ground pretending to have a broken wing, but I wasn't fooled. I was a kid that loved nature, both real nature, & Nature with George Page, so I knew how mother birds acted. As I approached the mother bird, she hobbled away, but instead of me following her, I searched the area, & found her nest of babies, & I ate them. (kidding, of course) My point is, people who are vulnerable can't be trusted, so either we must be their protector until they are full grown, or we need to eat them before they are full grown enough to lead us in the wrong direction. (figuratively, of course) 😋