229. How Vulnerability Loops Make Team Communication More Effective

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many companies and managers have prided themselves on being strong, always showing confidence in the face of any crisis, and ensuring that people never show weakness or vulnerability. But is this the best approach? Does unwavering strength make a team stronger? Does exposing your weakness increase the likelihood that people will use that against you? What is the best path for a company and how should it encourage its teams to act?</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That answer is coming to you as we dig into the episode and learn all about vulnerability loops and why they are so critical for fostering strong teams. </span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Show Notes:</span></h3> <ul> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">[00:40] Today is a very exciting episode talking about something really critical for fostering strong teams – the vulnerability loop</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">[02:46] Before we get into the model and what a vulnerability loop is, I want you to take a moment and think about the people you are most closely linked to – those you have a really strong bond with. The people you trust wholeheartedly. Those who you know have got your back no matter what.</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">[05:05] A shared experience where the participants were vulnerable creates a trust bond that is hard to break, even after decades and otherwise drifting apart.</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">[06:57] There are five simple steps in the vulnerability loop, a concept that is attributed to Jeff Polzer, Harvard professor in the department of organizational behavior, but was really popularized by Daniel Coyle when he included it in his book,</span> <em><span style= "font-weight: 400;">The Culture Code</span></em><span style= "font-weight: 400;">. Even though they may seem random, every vulnerability loop follows the same five steps.</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">[08:47] To make it a LOOP you can’t just ackno