The Colonel said, “Don’t be afraid to show your flaws every now and then. They’re what make others want to work with you.”
If you’re anything like me, this one is tough. It’s such a hard lesson to wrap my brain around. When we look in the mirror (whether real or proverbial) and see our faults (which is usually the first thing we notice), we ask ourselves, “Who am I that anyone would want to follow me?” And so, we work hard to mask our faults, to bury them deep and cover them with a smooth veneer. Unfortunately, when we do that, we become less authentic and less transparent and, therefore, less followable. It’s a confounding paradox. The interesting thing, though, is that acknowledging your flaws doesn’t mean you are complacent about them or aren’t working to overcome them. In fact, acknowledging your flaws means that you recognize them, are owning them, and therefore (I propose) are further along than most in overcoming them.
Being willing to show your flaws allows your team to see you as human, honest, vulnerable and genuine. This almost invariably will garner respect and empathy, and your team will be more committed to working for you and with you. When we put on a veneer, working hard to seem perfect, others will work hard to find our flaws (if they give us any regard at all!). When we admit our shortcomings, others will naturally be drawn to us because we are more relatable, and they will work with us to help us grow.
Read Lauren’s Whitepaper on The Nine Essentials of Significant Leadership.
