Because strength doesn’t come from perfection — it comes from being real.

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In the world many of us were shaped by, vulnerability was framed as a liability. We were told to hold it in, smooth it over, and only show up when we had the answers. Especially in professional settings, especially as women, we learned that to be taken seriously, we had to be polished, prepared — and untouchable.

But here’s what experience teaches us — and what leadership demands:
Vulnerability isn’t weakness. It’s a form of wisdom.
And learning how to embrace it doesn’t diminish your power — it amplifies it.

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The Authenticity We Say We Want — But Often Avoid

We live in a culture that talks about authenticity. We’re told to be “real,” to “just be ourselves.” But in the same breath, we’re flooded with perfectly curated images, rehearsed confidence, and pressure to be endlessly composed.

The result? Many women walk into professional spaces wearing armour they didn’t ask for — a polished mask that keeps them safe, but distant. And then we wonder why connection feels hard, or why leadership feels lonely.

But true connection doesn’t come from performance. It comes from presence. And that means allowing space for vulnerability.

When you say, “I’m still figuring this out,”
When you say, “I made a mistake, and here’s what I’ve learned,”
When you say, “This is hard, and I’m still here,”

You make it safe for others to show up too.
That’s not fragile. That’s foundational.

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What Strength Really Looks Like

Many of us internalised the idea that strength means stoicism — never flinching, never faltering. But that version of strength is brittle. It doesn’t bend. It breaks.

True strength sounds different:

• “I don’t have all the answers, but I trust myself to find them.”
• “I can hold uncertainty without losing my clarity.”
• “I’m willing to be seen fully — even when I don’t feel perfect.”

That kind of strength invites trust. It builds credibility rooted in humanity, not performance.

And in leadership, it changes everything.

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Vulnerability at Work: Not Reckless, But Real

There’s a misconception that being vulnerable at work means oversharing. But there’s a difference between emotional exposure and intentional openness.

Being vulnerable at work might look like:

• Naming a challenge before it becomes a crisis
• Admitting when you need support — and asking for it directly
• Sharing a personal insight that creates space for connection
• Acknowledging the human side of a decision, not just the business case

You don’t need to lead with your scars. But you can lead from your story. And when you do, people listen differently.

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A Few Lessons from the Field

In the early stages of my career — whether pitching in music, negotiating in boardrooms, or building a business — I was taught to lead with authority. And I did. But what no one told me is that authority lands differently when it’s paired with authenticity.

One of my first major deals didn’t close because I was the loudest voice in the room. It closed because I listened — deeply. Because I asked the right questions. Because I didn’t pretend to have every answer. That moment taught me: power is relational, not performative.

I also remember being dismissed at an industry event — completely overlooked by someone who didn’t know I was the one who had signed the deal they were chasing. I didn’t correct them. I didn’t force recognition. I chose grace over defensiveness. Why? Because I knew the truth of my own work. That moment taught me: you don’t need to prove what’s already known within you.

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How to Practise Vulnerability Without Losing Your Ground

1. Start with Self-Honesty

You can’t be real with others if you’re hiding from yourself.
Name what you’re feeling. Name what’s hard. Don’t rush to fix it. Just witness it. That’s the starting point.

2. Choose Your Moments — And Your People

Not every space deserves your vulnerability. But some do. Share selectively, not secretly. Share where it builds trust, not just release.

3. Rehearse Your Story From a Place of Power

Practice saying:

“This is what I moved through — and here’s what I know now.”
Own the narrative. Don’t erase the emotion — but frame it in growth.

4. Normalise Mistakes as Data, Not Defects

You are allowed to make mistakes. You are allowed to learn publicly.
This doesn’t erode trust. It builds it — because it shows you’re still evolving, and that matters more than any illusion of perfection.

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Vulnerability Cultivates Confidence — Not the Other Way Around

We often think we need to build confidence before we can be vulnerable. But the reverse is often true.

When you:

• Show up before you feel “ready”
• Speak honestly, even when your voice shakes
• Stand in your truth, without apologising for it

You realise just how strong you really are.

That’s where unshakable confidence comes from — not the absence of fear, but the willingness to walk with it.

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Final Note: Your Power Doesn’t Come From the Mask — It Comes From You

You don’t need to be perfect to be powerful.
You don’t need to have it all together to lead.
You don’t need to perform confidence to own your space.

You just need to come home to yourself.
To speak from your centre.
To stand — open, honest, and ready.

Because vulnerability is not the soft centre of power. It is power.
And the more we practise it, the more we reclaim what was never lost — only hidden.

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