When is strength actually a weakness? When it’s a facade of toughness, rather than the real deal. This special kind of workplace machismo can keep leaders from asking questions, and when it does, real problems result, both for companies and for the individual who’s trying so hard to project strength. In this week’s roundup, we look at ways to embrace vulnerability, plus how to get along better with co-workers, and the big mistakes you’re probably making on social media, right now.
(Photo Credit: Moyan_Brenn/Flickr)
Dan Erwin at his blog: Vulnerability: A Virtue, Not a Vice
“If you want to be a successful professional in today’s tough business environment, you’re going to have to be willing to ask for help — and know how to do it,” Erwin writes. “…Yet, seeking help, especially by men, is often viewed as a sign of incompetence. And so, paradoxically, when leaders engage in these very useful behaviors of vulnerability, many are fearful of threat or embarrassment, believing that their skills and abilities as leaders may be questioned.”
How can we break this cycle? Erwin looks at research that might offer a way out, in his latest post.
Dawn Rosenberg McKay at About.com Career Planning: 7 Ways to Get Along Better With Your Co-Workers
“Good workplace relationships can help you do your job better,” writes Rosenberg McKay. “They can make going to work every day enjoyable or, at least, tolerable. Bad ones can distract you from your duties and can turn a so-so job into a nightmare.”
Of course, some aspects of your relationship with your co-workers will always be outside of your control. You can’t make a bad boss into a good one or force your colleagues to follow through with their part of a project. But you can optimize your own behavior and help your co-workers to be their best selves, to a certain extent. Here’s how to do it.
Neil Patrick at 40pluscareerguru: The Top 10 Trust-Melters on Your Social Media
“We all know trust is difficult to win and easy to lose,” Patrick writes. “The question is how should we present ourselves and behave on social media to enhance this aspect of our online reputation and not diminish it?”
Patrick’s list includes reminders of things you once knew – a professional headshot will always look better than a casual snap – and plenty of insights. For example, avoid what Patrick calls “high intensity recirculation,” the need to retweet, share, and post content until you essentially become a spammer. Find more tips here, at his blog.
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