Leading with Vulnerability

21The Five Vulnerable Leader Superheroes

Wonder Woman can fly and has super‐strength and speed. Spider‐Man can shoot webs from his hands, climb walls, and has amazing reflexes. Wolverine has claws that grow from his hands, can heal himself, and has enhanced senses.

Superheroes all have their own abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. There isn't one kind of superhero just like there isn't one kind of vulnerable leader. It's important to understand this because the general assumption we have about being a vulnerable leader is that either you are or you aren't. But it's not so black‐and‐white; it's quite gray.

What makes up these different types of vulnerable leader superheroes isn't a defined set of rules but comfort levels that may change over time. As you read through the different superhero types, instead of asking yourself “Which one am I?” ask yourself, “Which one am I most comfortable with being?” This is because you might not see yourself as completely one type of superhero but maybe a little bit of an amalgamation, but focusing on which one you are most comfortable with will give you a much clearer picture of the superhero you are.

While interviewing more than 100 CEOs I noticed that they were all vulnerable in different ways. For example, some were more comfortable sharing personal challenges and struggles, whereas others were more comfortable talking about mistakes and failures in a work context. I identified five types of vulnerable leaders; each of them have their ...