The Modern Leader series: Your leadership superpower

Modern leadership attribute No.5: Vulnerability: Your Leadership Superpower

Transform traditional leadership thinking by embracing vulnerability as a strength, not a weakness. Today’s modern leaders know that admitting uncertainty, sharing struggles and being open about mistakes builds deeper trust and stronger teams.

When leaders show vulnerability, they create psychological safety that encourages innovation, honest feedback and genuine collaboration. It’s not about oversharing — it’s about being authentic in ways that help others grow and connect.

For example, instead of pretending to have all the answers, try saying, “I’m not entirely sure about this approach. I’d really value your perspectives on what might work best.”

Read more on leadership vulnerability.

About The Modern Leader series

Discover actionable insights released biweekly, designed to help you elevate your own leadership impact and drive the business results you seek.

So, how do you know if you’re a modern leader?

Modern leaders stand apart through their ability to balance head and heart in today’s complex workplace, integrating emotional intelligence with strategic thinking.

New research with The Harris Poll (publishing Summer 2025) shows only 30% of leaders truly meet their teams’ evolving needs — but that elite group leads with “their heart IN their head” and consistently demonstrates six key differentiators.

They:

• Lead with gratitude.
• Listen and empathize.
• Foster an inclusive culture.
• Communicate with context.
• Connect strategy to employee growth.
• Enable employees to meet the moment.

To see additional ways you can differentiate yourself as a modern leader, check out the collection of modern leadership attributes (added bi-weekly) here.