What is Vulnerable Leadership?
Too often leaders can get caught up thinking about power rather than their responsibility to those they lead. Leadership roles depend on trust and the ability to motivate and lead others. The dependence on others in many ways is much more important and more powerful than the power or authority implied by one’s placement at the top of an organizational chart.
One key component of leadership that is often overlooked, and even more rarely discussed is vulnerability. Vulnerability is uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure. It is not a sign of weakness; it can be your greatest strength. Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. This is true courage, which is exactly what a team and organization need from their leaders during times of uncertainty.
In the end, it’s not about you. It’s about a relationship between you and the individuals you are challenging to transform something “good” into something “great”. If you sincerely want to build organizational trust, respect, honesty, and creativity, you have the tools. You have always possessed the ability to use them, lead by example with vulnerability.
What is HT Cares!
For HT Group, our mission has always been about changing lives. This isn’t just a marketing catch-phrase! To us, this is a way of life. When the pandemic started, our leadership gathered together to brainstorm on how we could impact our community and change lives while so many were hurting around us. What came out of those sessions was a multi-phased approach that started with HT putting approximately 75 people BACK TO WORK that lost their jobs due to the COVID crisis! Rather than file for unemployment or struggle with paying their bills, they had a steady paycheck!
This program went to the next level when HT gathered approximately 30 C-Suite executives into a collective “think tank” to answer the question, “How can we help business leaders re-open Texas by utilizing the collective experience from this team?” This exercise turned into an amazing collection of Austin based operating executives that have come together to help companies in the Austin community get through this difficult time. The final step in our HT Cares! Strategic Initiative is a free Executive Leader to Leader Conversation with their C-Suite and a peer(s) from a similar position, industry, or expertise on our team. This would act as another “set of eyes” while also being a confidential sounding board. NDA’s will be signed for their protection and ours.
Management Consulting, Staffing, and Recruiting:The HT Group is a comprehensive management consulting, staffing, and recruiting agency in Austin, built upon the foundation of integrity, transparency, and trust. Deeply rooted in its communities, The HT Group’s philosophy is to change lives, one job or project at a time. With an agile core, The HT Group team delivers services through contract, retained search, direct-hire, management consulting and advisory services. The HT Group strives to go above and beyond and truly empower its clients.
By Michael Francis
