For social psychologist Brené Brown , vulnerability — which she defines as learning to live with uncertainty , risk and emotional exposure — is a strength that lies at the heart of ‘ daring leadership ’. “ It ’ s not fear that gets in the way of daring leadership ; it ’ s armor ,” she asserts , stressing that to build a courageous culture within our organisations , we must be prepared to be vulnerable . Brown sets out four pillars of ‘ courageous leadership ’, which are teachable , observable and measurable , and can set us on the path to sustainable success .
Our brains are wired to protect us , leading us to sense and respond to danger automatically . This is handy when the threat is real , but becomes debilitating when that response is based on faulty connections or a perception that the danger is more real than it is . Recognising and understanding cognitive distortions — disconnects in our thought patterns that make us look at and interpret reality in inaccurate and generally unhelpful ways — helps us to avoid the psychological damage they can cause .
Stoicism : a practical philosophy for life and work
Stoicism , a philosophy for doers , is regaining popularity due to its relevance within our ( ever-more ) volatile , unpredictable and emotionally draining world . It can provide us with a set of personal ethics to help guide us in our careers , grounded in reality . At work , stoicism can help us to cope with impermanence and change , prepare for and overcome obstacles , manage our time , and build self-awareness , guiding us to live a purposeful life according to a moral framework .
“ Communication is the sister of leadership ,” according to leadership guru John Adair , but there are many obstacles that get in the way of it . These range from physical barriers to language and channel barriers and psychological barriers , all of which must be identified and navigated with care . To become better communicators , we must learn to anticipate the multiplicity of factors that can interrupt communication , and master an appreciation of context , an understanding of audience and the power of a well-crafted message delivered through the right medium .
Assertiveness is essential to acting with integrity ; at work , it can fuel innovation , create value for clients and foster teamwork and collaboration . But it doesn ’ t come naturally to everyone . For every leader who is assertive , there are others whose default communication style is aggressive , passive or passive-aggressive . Fortunately , there is a simple formula to communicating more assertively at work and strategies for dealing with other less helpful patterns of behaviour — in ourselves and others .