The TED Talk That Changed Me Forever

I love TED Talks, but there are a handful that the management geek in me finds particularly awesome – ones I frequently recommend and have gone back to over and over again. Dr. Brené Brown’s talk on the power of vulnerability is one of these.

Dr. Brown’s research reveals how, what she calls “wholeheartedness” or the acceptance of one's own worthiness, is at the root of people’s ability to be authentic, courageous and compassionate. 

This deep sense of self-acceptance comes from connecting with others, while connection is achieved through vulnerability. Putting yourself out there does open you up to attacks, but more importantly it opens you up to discovery, learning, praise, and fulfillment. 

On the flip side, the root of disconnection is self-shame – a fear of not being good enough and therefore not worthy of connection...and all of the positive attributes that come with it. 

So how does connection apply to managing people and improving organizational performance?

It turns out that connection is directly correlated to powerful performance attributes like creativity, innovation and a clear sense of purpose and meaning. 

In a funny, entertaining, but not cheesy or self-helpie kind of a way, Brown shows how connecting with others allows us to open ourselves to new opportunities and to take risks even if there are no guarantees, which can translate into enormous benefit for our organizations and the missions they pursue.

The journey to promoting connection starts with leaders and managers – to be authentic in our hiring and firing, how we communicate organizational change or give and receive feedback.