Leadership Vulnerability Quotes & Sayings

They (the media) found little quality of depth to him, that when she said on the platform with that which he said to them in private. The qualities of introspection and reflectiveness that they particularly treasured were missing. — David Halberstam

Invincibility is in oneself, and vulnerability is in the opponent. Invincibility is a matter of defense, vulnerability is a matter of attack. Therefore skillful warriors are able to be invincible, but they cannot cause opponents to be vulnerable. That is why it is said that victory is discerned and not manufactured. — Sun Tzu

To guard our character with unwavering commitment, our best protection comes from being humbly aware of our vulnerability. — Lee Ellis

Embracing personal vulnerability is required if you wish to work, play and succeed in the future. — Bill Jensen

Inside that Colonel, there's a private that needs to be cuddled and held just like the rest of us." Hawkeye — M*A*S*H Episode Guide Team

This night he was a king before he was a man. At this time, this troubled me. Later, I would have cause to wish it were always so. — Geraldine Brooks

As important as it is for all members of a leadership team to commit to being vulnerable, that is not going to happen if the leader of the team, whether that person is the CEO, department head, pastor, or school principal, does not go first. If the team leader is reluctant to acknowledge his or her mistakes or fails to admit to a weakness that is evident to everyone else, there is little hope that other members of the team are going to take that step themselves. In fact, it probably wouldn't be advisable for them to do so because there is a good chance that their vulnerability would be neither encouraged nor rewarded. — Patrick Lencioni

Valor in the leader is often an expression of the leader's character, fortitude, grace, vulnerability, openness, and honesty. — Catherine Robinson-Walker

Do not wait for vulnerability to be thrust upon you by your company or the marketplace. That is when you lost control of your own destiny. Choose to disrupt yourself. Seek vulnerability on your terms, no one else's. — Bill Jensen

Another great example of the power of vulnerability
this time in a corporation
is the leadership approach taken by Lululemon's CEO, Christine Day. In a video interview with CNN Money, Day explained that she was once a very bright, smart executive who "majored in being right." Her transformation came when she realized that getting people to engage and take ownership wasn't about "the teling" but about letting them come into the idea in a purpose-led way, and that her job was creating the space for others to perform. She chracterized this change as the shift from "having the best idea or problem solving" to "being the best leader of people. — Brene Brown