“Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.” ~ Brene Brown
As leaders, 1:1 meetings with team members are crucial touchpoints. They can deepen relationships and build the team, or they can be a waste of time.
It’s your responsibility to make sure they are effective and useful for everyone.
My best word of advice to do that well: start with vulnerability. Share ways you are not serving or helping them to grow and develop as well as you can. Tell them you want to do better, and come up with a few ideas on how you can be more helpful. See if they agree.
In these meetings, we’re often trying to give and receive feedback to improve. Leaders MUST be asking for feedback to improve themselves, but rarely do team members actually feel safe to give that kind of feedback.
Setting the example and modeling that vulnerability opens the door to honest feedback.
It also creates space for the team members to feel willing to admit ways they need to improve themselves, rather than putting on the facade that everything is fine so they can look good. If you show them that admitting failure and the need for improvement is okay, they will feel safe to do it too. This will allow you to see more of the truth of what’s going on in the team, and be more able to address issues.
As a leader, you have a duty and stewardship to help build those on your team. Show them what that looks like by showing your own need for improvement.
Start with vulnerability.
See more in the video below!
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