PIDP 3260 - You Look Like a Fool!

There are some very powerful emotions - embarrassment, shame, vulnerability - that instil fear in people, and how people manage those emotions will shape their actions. According to researcher Brené Brown, “vulnerability is absolutely at the core of fear, and anxiety, and shame,” and if a person does not manage them effectively, this can lead to negative or even aggressive thinking and behaviours. In Brookfield’s chapter on Understanding Students’ Resistance to Learning, Brookfield writes a section on a Fear of Looking Foolish in Public as one of the reasons students can be resistant to learning. While it is only a very small section in his book The Skillful Teacher, I feel it is very important that we recognize how significantly this fear can impact the classroom. As the teacher, we can help both ourselves and our students by acknowledging and managing this fear, and by doing so we can turn it into an opportunity.

No doubt we can all think of occasions that we ourselves, let alone our students, allowed potential embarrassment or fear of failure to get in the way of participating in an activity. However, according to Brown, if we can learn to acknowledge and face our feelings of vulnerability and shame, if we can learn empathy kindness and compassion for ourselves and others, and if we can dare to be courageous in the face of our fear, the benefits can be a game changer. Expanding on this, in his article titled The Power of Vulnerability in Leadership: Experts Say Authenticity and Honesty Can Move People and Achieve Results, Luis Romero discusses the research from several experts in the field. Here are some of the quotes from that article:

“Brené Brown’s research has shown that leaders who are willing to be vulnerable and take risks are more likely to build trusting relationships, encourage innovation, and foster a culture of creativity and growth.”

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“[Simon] Sinek argues that leaders who are willing to be vulnerable and share their weaknesses and struggles can create a sense of safety and trust within their teams. This, in turn, leads to greater collaboration, creativity, and success.”

“[Patrick] Lencioni argues that leaders who are willing to admit their mistakes and be vulnerable are more likely to create an environment where team members feel more comfortable sharing their own struggles and learning from each other’s experiences. This, in turn, leads to greater innovation, productivity, and success.”

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Dr. Daniel Coleman “adds that being vulnerable also means being emotionally intelligent. Leaders who are emotionally intelligent can recognize their own emotions and those of others, which allows them to navigate difficult situations with greater ease and create more meaningful connections with their team members.

Forbes, March 8, 2023

The article goes on to discuss tips from these experts on how someone might incorporate vulnerability into their leadership style. It’s a quick read, and if you want to learn more, I would recommend it.

Thanks for dropping in, and we will chat again soon!

~ Jennifer

Resources:

Brookfield, S.D. (2015). The skillful teacher. Jossey-Bass.

Romero, L.E. (2023, March 8). The power of vulnerability in leadership: Experts say authenticity and honesty can move people and achieve results. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/luisromero/2023/03/08/the-power-of-vulnerability-in-leadership-experts-say-authenticity-and-honesty-can-move-people-and-achieve-results/

Sutton, J. (2017, June 14). Shame resilience theory: Advice from Brené Brown. Positive Psychology. https://positivepsychology.com/shame-resilience-theory/