Leading With Vulnerability: Unlock Your Greatest Superpower to Trans-form Yourself, Your Team, and Your Organization

by Jacob Morgan (Narrator)

"A thoughtful, resourceful read on how leaders can be more candid about their foibles and fears without sacrificing their effectiveness. If you've recognized the importance of vulnerability but aren't sure how to bring it into your workplace, this book is for you."
~Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of THINK AGAIN and HIDDEN POTENTIAL, and host of the TED podcast
 
How do some of the world's top leaders unlock the potential of others, create trust, and lead through change?
 
Jacob started out with one basic Is vulnerability the same for leaders as it is for everyone else? It turns out that it's not. On August 20, 1991, Hollis Harris, the CEO of struggling Continental Airlines told his 42,000 employees to pray for the future of the company. The next day he was fired. What Hollis did was vulnerable, but it was not leadership.
 
While vulnerability cripples some leaders, others tap into it and use it as a superpower. Vulnerability alone makes leaders seem incompetent. Competence on its own makes it hard for leaders to connect with their people. The key is to develop both competence and vulnerability, what Jacob calls "The Vulnerable Leader Equation."
 
Based on over 100 CEO interviews and a survey of nearly 14,000 employees, renowned leadership thought leader and futurist Jacob Morgan shares candid stories and original research that shows how leaders can tap into vulnerability to transform themselves, their teams, and their organizations.
 
This book will show you why it's so crucial to lead with vulnerability and how to do it well. You will
 
Leading With Vulnerability is not just a book to share with your leaders and your co-workers. It's an invitation to a paradigm-shifting adventure. Nothing like this has been written before and, after reading it, you'll never look at leadership the same way again.

Genres: Leadership, Self Help, Nonfiction, Business

Audio CD

Published November 14, 2023

About the author

After graduating with honors in business management economics and psychology from the University of California Santa Cruz, Jacob was excited to join the corporate world. At his first job he was told that he’d be traveling the country, meeting with executives and entrepreneurs, and doing all sorts of exciting work. A few months in, he was stuck doing data entry, cold calling, and PowerPoint presentations. One day the CEO came out of his nice corner office, handed Jacob a $10 bill and said “I’m late for
a meeting, go grab me a cup of coffee, and get something for yourself as well.” That was the last corporate job he ever had.

Today, Jacob Morgan is a trained futurist and one of the world’s leading authorities on the leadership, employee experience, and the future of work. He speaks in front of tens of thousands of people each year and his content is seen over a million times a year. Jacob is the best-selling author of four books: The Future Leader (2020), The Employee Experience Advantage (2017), The Future of Work (2014), and The Collaborative Organization (2012).

He speaks at over 50 conferences a year including TED Academy which is one of the largest TED events in the world. In addition Jacob provides advisory and thought leadership services to various organizations around the world. He is the founder of The Future of Work University at FutureOfWorkUniversity.com, an online education and training platform
that helps individuals and organizations thrive in the rapidly changing world of work. Courses explore topics such as employee experience, the future of work, and leadership skills.

Jacob also created “The Future If,” a global community of business leaders, authors and futurists who explore what our future can look like IF certain technologies, ideas, approaches and trends actually happen. The community looks at everything from AI and automation to leadership and management practices to augmented reality and virtual reality, the 4th industrial revolution and everything in between.

His work has been endorsed by the CEOs of: Unilever, Cisco, Mastercard, Nestle, Best Buy, SAP, KPMG, T-Mobile, Schneider Electric,
and many others. In addition, Jacob hosts The Future of Work Podcast a weekly show where he speaks with senior executives, authors, and business leaders about how the world of work is changing. His Youtube channel explores the latest concepts and ideas around the future
of work with inspiring and educational 2-3 minute videos.
He has also contributed to and been cited in publications such as Cosmopolitan, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, CNN, Glamour, the
MIT Sloan Management Review, USA Today, and The Harvard Business Review.

You can learn more about Jacob and get access to his blog, podcast, video series, and research by visiting TheFutureOrganization.com. You can also email him, Jacob [at] TheFutureOrganization [dot] com

Reviews

[Jessi Bone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacob Morgan tackles vulnerability and leadership in his latest book Leading with Vulnerability. He looks at business leaders and how sharing their professional and personal vulnerability has led not only to increased productivity in their business but also allowed their team members and family to feel closer and more seen with them. He points out “A vulnerable leader is a leader who intentionally opens himself or herself up to the potential of emotional harm while taking action (when possible) to create a positive outcome.” One of the ways he says we can do this is by sharing struggles and showing how we have overcome them or are working toward overcoming them. This really hit me in the belt with my professional business and with my personal life because this is not traditionally taught in business or life. The combination of resources and advice allowed me to invest in learning and wanting more from this book.

I can say that this needs to be one of any leader's book resources out there. I think anyone in any position of leadership, whether working toward leadership roles or wanting to be a leader, should consider picking this one up. I am aware that Jacob has other books on leadership and business and I believe I will be picking them up to see what else sage advice he has that can help me approach relationships in both business and leadership. I think you will be doing yourself a great disservice to miss the book and I will be recommending to my colleagues another book for them to pick up this year.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacob Morgan has defined vulnerability in a new meaning in “Leading with Vulnerability”. The book contains 100 of examples describing vulnerability with respect to leadership in a new profound meaning. Rather than showing vulnerability as a weak zone, Jacob has perfectly described how leaders can use it to transform people around them and get the best of the people working under themselves.

The different stories in the books are examples how one can enhance their professional growth along with making changes in their personal behaviour as well. Various stories also show how leaders and management at the top are also humans like us and how they balance the tasks at hand and lead their teams. The book mainly emphasises on how we should learn to lead along with being vulnerable.

The author has used simple language and many real life examples in the form of stories to explain the concept of vulnerability. Also simple pictures have been included in the books to make difficult ideas simple. A must read books for leaders and people who wish to become leaders for transforming their teams into a better team for better results and to maintain connections with their fellow workers.

[Luka Onee-san · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some comparison made me smile but other than that it's a good book and a worth read for everyone. Not only leaders.

[Pretty Peony Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book focuses on using vulnerability to manage/lead in the workplace. As a leader (CEO, manager, etc.), it’s important to understand your employees and co-workers in order to create an environment where everyone can work together harmoniously to achieve the required outcome for the company. This book explains a technique that can benefit the leader. It can be difficult to manage a large group of people, especially in a corporate size company. Without a strong leader, things can go awry. However, having a leader doesn’t necessarily mean everything will work out perfect. The leader must know their employees and must sympathize with them, and in order to sympathize, the leader must show vulnerability toward their employees.

There are lots of great information in this book to guide a person in a leadership position to better work with their employees. The interviews with CEOs from large corporations was a nice touch in showing how these leaders were able to overcome obstacles. This book explains how to use vulnerability alongside other leadership techniques to achieve the best outcome between employees and the leader. It also touches on failure, learning from mistakes, and how vulnerability can lead to situations where the leader could be taken advantage of.

Overall, I found this book informative and knowledgeable in the area of leadership. It’s important to understand your employees and using vulnerability as a technique can benefit most situations. Personally, I’ve been on both ends as a person in a leadership position and as an employee. I’ve learned that being vulnerable toward employees can backfire because it can lead to being taken advantage of. Once you’ve built trust with an employee, you are kind of digging yourself a hole because they may not understand your goal. In this case I think it’s better to form a professional rapport and not become too vulnerable. As an employee, my experience was that those in position only had one goal and that was to hit numbers. It didn’t matter who you were. You were always replaceable. In those situations, it’s never a good idea to allow your leaders to fully understand you because they can and will take advantage of you.

[Mrs. Varela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leading with Vulnerability: Unlock Your Greatest Superpower to Transform Yourself, Your Team, and Your Organization by Jacob Morgan shares motivating insight into leadership. The author’s concept of leading with vulnerability has as much to do with your leadership style as it does with your willingness to learn to communicate with transparency.



Morgan interviewed hundreds of leaders in companies around the world to discuss their take on vulnerability in leadership and its impact on their organizations. The discussions revealed that it takes humility, self-confidence, and good intentions to be a successful vulnerable leader. The leader’s goal is to edify, engage, and improve their work environment while raising employee morale. One of the leaders Morgan interviewed states, vulnerability “...is really about empowering others to make their own mark and contribute at their highest levels.”

In two of the last chapters, the author explains the five types of superpowers of the vulnerable leader. They are Captain Heart, Wonder Worker, Professor Professional, Balanced Beast, and Super-Situational. He identifies the strengths and weaknesses of each type of leader. The following chapter discusses the eight attributes of a vulnerable leader. It is helpful to do a self-review as you study these superpowers and attributes to see where you fit in and need improvement toward leading with vulnerability.

I found this book to be very easy to read with comprehendible concepts. At times, the author was repetitive and could have combined a few chapters. One of the things Morgan reminded of was that essentially, we are all leaders in some way in our lives. Therefore, I likely share some of these concepts with others outside of the business realm and apply them to myself as well.

[Moná · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not everyone is equipped to lead others, but many can be a leader of themselves. As a leader of others, it often comes with great responsibilities that could make or break your community. That is why it is most important to be mindful of the role you play in another person's life.

In "Leading with Vulnerability: Unlock Your Greatest Superpower to Transform Yourself, Your Team, and Your Organization," author Jacob Morgan explains the importance of leadership and vulnerability co-existing. The interviews and perspectives of leaders on a global scale shed light on the topic in a concise and manageable way. It encourages those who are leaders or in leadership positions to consider being more vulnerable, transparent, and understanding that you don't have to have everything together. It leads to why teams, organizations, institutions, and those alike, must consider the possibilities of stepping in when their leader lacks. The insightfulness and perspectives were a breath of fresh air, as leaders keep in mind they are a constant growth in progress.

I'm happy to have read the author's perspective on the meanings of vulnerability, that a leader should possess. From the research and interviews of leaders in various industries, they all understood just how impactful they are to their companies. Leaders mentioned being vulnerable in a certain way, as it would prevent scaring your employees because that isn't the reaction you want. The level of optimism, competency, and vulnerability makes a true leader. I highly recommend this book because of the stigma that vulnerability equals weakness, which was discredited.

[Gouri Gupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read

It is a transformative book that challenges traditional leadership stereotypes and encourages leaders to embrace vulnerability as a strength rather than a weakness. Through personal anecdotes, expert insights, and practical advice, Jacob explores the importance of vulnerability in leadership and offers a roadmap for cultivating it in the workplace.

Jacob begins by defining what it means to be a vulnerable leader and why it is crucial for effective leadership. He argues that vulnerability is not about being weak but about being authentic and empathetic, traits that can greatly benefit both leaders and their teams.

Throughout the book, Jacob examines the barriers that prevent leaders from being vulnerable at work and provides strategies for overcoming them. He emphasizes the importance of leading by example, empowering others, adapting to change, and developing trust within teams.

Jacob also explores the factors that make leaders feel vulnerable, including asking for help, admitting mistakes, and sharing personal information. He identifies ten signs of vulnerability and provides actionable advice for overcoming them.

Jacob highlights the positive impact of vulnerability on leaders and their teams. He shares stories of leaders who have successfully embraced vulnerability and illustrates the benefits, such as increased trust, collaboration, and innovation. It provides practical advice and real-world examples that will inspire leaders to embrace vulnerability and create more authentic and empathetic workplaces.

[Nirmal Kurien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leading with Vulnerability: A Blueprint for Authentic Leadership

Jacob Morgan presents a comprehensive guide to redefining leadership through the lens of vulnerability. Drawing from a wealth of research and real-world examples, Morgan navigates readers through the intricacies of vulnerability, offering practical tools and actionable strategies for leaders at all levels.

At the heart of the book lies Morgan's Vulnerability Wheel, a powerful framework that delineates the key elements of vulnerability in leadership. Through a series of thought-provoking questions, readers are encouraged to examine their intentions, relationships, timing, tone, and professionalism when engaging in vulnerable leadership. This framework serves as a roadmap for leaders seeking to cultivate authentic connections and foster trust within their teams.

Throughout the book, Morgan supplements his theoretical frameworks with compelling anecdotes and interviews with leaders such as Lara Abrash and Richard Baldridge. These real-life examples bring the concepts to life, demonstrating how vulnerability can manifest in various leadership contexts and catalyze transformative change within organizations.

Overall, "Leading with Vulnerability" is a valuable resource for leaders seeking to cultivate more authentic and impactful leadership styles. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to lead with courage, compassion, and authenticity.

[Grace Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Leading with Vulnerability" by Jacob Morgan is a groundbreaking book that emphasizes the power of being vulnerable in leadership. Through a blend of personal stories, expert insights, and practical advice, author shows how vulnerability can be a powerful tool for leaders. He gives clear examples and uses figures to explain his ideas. The book also includes data from interviews and surveys, making it easier to understand.

My favorite part was learning about the 10 signs of vulnerability. It made me realize that being vulnerable is a powerful tool for leaders.
The book is not only insightful but also highly practical. It offers actionable strategies for cultivating vulnerability in the workplace. The Author's research, including interviews with CEOs and survey data, made it more valuable and makes this book a must-read for anyone looking to enhance their leadership skills. It also emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, self-reflection, self-confidence and positive self-talk in leadership. The author challenges traditional leadership norms and encourages leaders to embrace vulnerability as a strength.

Overall, "Leading with Vulnerability" is a thought-provoking and transformative read that will change the way you approach and view leadership.

[Lahari · Rating 5 out of 5]

VULNERABILITY - THE HIDDEN POWER


The author looks business leaders and how sharing their vulnerability affected both personally and professionally by increasing the productivity at work front and becoming/being close to the family and the to the people working with him and for him like a family. The quote that I liked very much as follows -a vulnerable leader is a person who intentionally opens up to the potential of emotional harm while taking action to create positive outcome. This book is a compelling guide that challenges the traditions leadership issues and norms. Through powerful story telling and practical advice the author demonstrates how vulnerable can be used as a catalyst for personal and professional growth. This book is a game changer who wanna growth in life and achieve good heights. This book is a doing a great job by letting people to know how to be vulnerable without being too preachy. The interviews of good and great ceo's is soo good and strong. These real life experiences and examples give soo much boost to the young generation to achieve great heights and dream High.



  

[Ankita Mori · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very fascinating read which starts at World war ll with author’s riveting family history and all along so many anecdotes of CEOs and their views on leadership with their vulnerabilities. As human beings we all know what vulnerability feels like, because at some point in our life we feel vulnerable to situations or people. This book helps you to make this vulnerability into your guiding path. The book depicts that there is no substitute for competence whatever the reasons are, but to be a leader, you have to take your vulnerabilities with you and make yourself resilient and powerful enough to do something positive with it to change the world.
True essence of the book is that true leadership comes when a person owns his/her vulnerability by asking for help, admitting mistakes, sharing personal information,being aware of people’s tough situations, listening with purpose and commitment, accepting candid feedback,talking about risks and being authentic themselves. A well researched guide on true leadership.

[Himaja Vemuri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book rose my spirits. Author's main audience appears to be those who put on the facade of a strong person to whom he emphasizes that showing signs of vulnerability every now and then is not a weakness. At first I felt the book wasn't for me because I had never been a leader, nor did I have any reason to show myself as strong before. Opposite to the intended audience, I was a reader who has always been vulnerable. However, by the end of the book, I had my own interpretation of it. I grasped few insights which weren't probably ntended by the author. There is not too much philosophy in the book if that's what you're searching for. The author definitely isn't someone who would have philosophical touch in his writing considering his upbringing which be brought up in the book. Additionally, I expected a little more detailed information on dealing with vulnerability at work from the point of view of the people the author interviewed though that would have been difficult.

[Maera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being vulnerable is not easy, in many cultures it’s not acceptable to be vulnerable specially for the males. It’s seen as weakness and you kinda lose respect. But it’s wrong and being vulnerable can be a strength as it shows your emotional quotient . Being emotionally intelligent can be an important attribute of a leader. Author explains every aspect of vulnerability right from “what does leading with vulnerability mean”
Jacob Morgan has so beautifully define the idea of "vulnerability". People usually think that 'being vulnerable' means 'being weak'. But as this book says and I quote- "Being vulnerable allows you to connect with others to build that resilience but being a vulnerable leader allows you to take that connection and resiliency and do something positive with it to change the world".
This is an outstanding book written by Jacob Morgan that tells us about the importance of using vulnerability as a leading tool for the leaders in the organizations.

[Mohamed · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book explores the importance of vulnerability in leadership. Leaders are usually about showing their vulnerabilities while embracing vulnerability can strengthen trust, foster authentic connections, and drive innovation within teams. Morgan emphasizes that leaders who show their human side create a culture of openness, allowing team members to share their ideas and concerns without fear.

Throughout the book, Morgan provides practical strategies for leaders to adopt vulnerability, such as active listening, acknowledging weaknesses, and encouraging feedback. He also highlights real-world examples and case studies that demonstrate the positive impact of vulnerable leadership on organizational performance and employee engagement. Ultimately, the book advocates for a shift in traditional leadership paradigms, suggesting that vulnerability is not a weakness but a powerful asset in building strong, resilient teams.

[Khushi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author looks business leaders and how sharing their vulnerability affected both personally and professionally by increasing the productivity at work front and becoming/being close to the family and the to the people working with him and for him like a family. The quote that I liked very much as follows -a vulnerable leader is a person who intentionally opens up to the potential of emotional harm while taking action to create positive outcome.
One of the standout aspects of this book is its practicality. Jacob not only explains the concept of leading with vulnerability but also provides actionable strategies that can be implemented immediately.
This book is a game-changer for anyone seeking to cultivate authentic leadership and build stronger, more resilient teams. Highly recommended!

[Saurav · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a few book that are must to be read by students because they have so much of content that will be helpfully for them and this book falls into that category.

This is a book that discusses on whether vulnerability will be a plus point or not for leaders working in the organizations.

Many of the times if a leader is being vulnerable towards their employees it used to backfire. After analyzing on this the author understood that there's a reason for that to happen and that is where the leader is being only vulnerable but not leading along with vulnerability.

The returns that the organizations will get by leading it with vulnerabilities is great and the concept of climbing "vulnerable mountain" is amazing. This is a book that must be read by all.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A non conventional approach to leadership

The common perception of a leader is that of a strong demeanour and they can’t show their vulnerabilities otherwise they will be termed as weak. But this book is about changing that perception of a leader. A real leader is one who lead by example if he has faced any setbacks, he needs to share it with others along with the learnings he had so that others also believe in themselves that mistakes can be stepping stones towards success. I like the line “Life is too short to put up a fascade of perfection”. This book is recommended not just for leaders but also who aspires to become one.

[Bibha Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vulnerable leader

Being vulnerable is not easy, in many cultures it’s not acceptable to be vulnerable specially for the males. It’s seen as weakness and you kinda lose respect. But it’s wrong and being vulnerable can be a strength as it shows your emotional quotient . Being emotionally intelligent can be an important attribute of a leader. Author explains every aspect of vulnerability right from “what does leading with vulnerability mean” to “how does vulnerability helps in leading through change”. The book also has many examples, stories and research about vulnerability and leadership. I also like the mention of my favorite movie “inside out”.

[Jashan Sandhu · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this well written book, author, by setting several examples of business leaders points that by sharing the professional and personal vulnerability thoughtfully, can increase the productivity of the business. How a study titled ‘unmasking the manly men’ concluded that masculinity or roughness wasn’t necessary the best at improving safety and effectiveness. Rather, the ones who excelled were mission driven guys who cared about their fellow worker, were good listener, and were caring leader.
Overall, It is a perfect guide for anyone willing to excel their professional life.

[Alex Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only book a leader needs to lead. This book was truly magical. It's hard to describe how beautifully it enlightened me and cleared all my worries. It covers everything you need to know about leadership, vulnerability, and how to lead with vulnerability. As leaders, we often have many unanswered questions, and Jacob succeeded in providing brilliant answers and solutions. The figures included in this book were also very helpful in understanding the topics. The common belief that vulnerability is a weakness is challenged, and the book offers a perspective that being vulnerable in leadership can actually be beneficial. Nothing can beat a leader who leads with vulnerability.

One of the standout aspects of this book is its practicality. Jacob not only explains the concept of leading with vulnerability but also provides actionable strategies that can be implemented immediately.

Moreover, Jacob's approachable writing style makes complex concepts easy to understand. Must-read for anyone looking to enhance their leadership skills and to lead with vulnerability!

[Josh Whitworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s nothing inherently wrong or exceptional with this book. It does a great job of laying out how to be vulnerable without being too preachy, but it’s the same information that’s been stated before. It doesn’t make it less true, just not the most timely in release. Still a valuable book with solid info.

[Kelly Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leading with Vulnerability" is a compelling guide that challenges traditional leadership paradigms. Through powerful storytelling and practical advice, the author demonstrates how vulnerability can be a catalyst for personal and professional growth. This book is a game-changer for anyone seeking to cultivate authentic leadership and build stronger, more resilient teams. Highly recommended!

[Hadley Woodhall · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Leading with Vulnerability" offers a compelling approach to leadership that emphasizes authenticity and trust-building. Through practical advice and real-life examples, the author demonstrates how embracing vulnerability can lead to transformative results within teams and organizations. A must-read for leaders seeking to cultivate deeper connections and drive positive change.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished this book for work. I'm not sure how I feel about the writing style however the idea of being a vulnerable leader is a good one.

[janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a good introduction to leading with vulnerability, but felt a little surface-level. Everytime I thought we were getting into the meat of the topic the chapter ended or the subject changed.

[Paiman Chen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be genuine.

[Astha Garg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vulnerability is your Superpower!

Jacob Morgan has so beautifully define the idea of "vulnerability". People usually think that 'being vulnerable' means 'being weak'. But as this book says and I quote- "Being vulnerable allows you to connect with others to build that resilience but being a vulnerable leader allows you to take that connection and resiliency and do something positive with it to change the world". This one statement should be enough for you to read this book. A true leader doesn't hide his/her vulnerability, rather leads with it!

[Gauravkumar Tidke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacob Morgan's book 'Leading with Vulnerability' gives a new way of looking at leadership. He talks about how being open and real can make you a better leader. He shares stories and advice from 100 CEOs and 14,000 workers to support his ideas. 


One thing I like is his list of 10 signs of vulnerability.


I appreciate how the author uses pictures and simple explanations to make difficult ideas easy to understand. 


This book is great for experienced leaders and new ones too. It teaches you how to build trust with your team. 

If you want to improve your leadership skills and connect better with others, give this book a try!