Mike Kabeya relays leadership lessons he has learned this year.  He is showing up as a vulnerable and present leader.

Vulnerability is uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure, as revealed in Brené Brown’s research on vulnerability and shame. The difference between a leader that is armored up and a leader who is present and vulnerable sounds like this paraphrased statement: “Yes, running a business is scary. We don’t know how this will turn out. I am confident enough that I can take this on. If I fail, I will fail daring greatly. I will learn from the experience. I will embed the learning into the culture I am creating. I will continue to rise strong.”

A great leader must be willing to walk into uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure. Trust, engagement, accountability, adaptability to change, innovation, and creativity are born of vulnerability. Brené Brown says that we need to rethink and redefine what we mean when we are vulnerable. To one person it means weakness, to another person vulnerability means being open hearted.

Another way to view vulnerability is through this equation, “Vulnerability minus boundaries is not vulnerability at all.” In today’s mentoring session with Mike, we discuss boundaries in one of the learned lessons for him this second year of building Kabeya Media. Who he learned the most valuable leadership advice from in the Republic of Congo is revealed. We also discuss recovering from a robbery and other ways he has grown as a leader.

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Mentoring Tips:

Here are some strategies for increasing your ability to be a present and vulnerable leader:

• Purchase Brené Brown’s books. Begin reading more about how to dare greatly and rise strong from experiences that lay you out flat, brokenhearted, and face down in the leadership arena.

• Talk with others about how they view vulnerability. Watch Brené Brown’s TedTalk on how she worked her way through a year of therapy to understand her research findings about vulnerability and shame, wholehearted living, and the rising strong process.

• Make a list of how you have grown this year as a leader.

Present and Vulnerable Leadership Lessons with Mike Kabeya, Episode 47   www.kabeyamedia.com

Next Monday’s Mentoring Conversation:

More details with Mike Kabeya’s present and vulnerable leadership lessons this year. His second official year as founder and President of Kabeya Media, www.kabeyamedia.com.