Lead With Vulnerability

I want to issue a moment of compassion for people who have struggled to speak up because they're scared of saying the wrong thing and/or getting called out for saying something that illustrates their privilege. Why? Because pretty much from the beginning of life, mistakes are not framed positively. Whether it's related to academic rank in the classroom, how we're remembered during a recital or athletic performance, or an error that reveals itself on a work project, mistakes are not lauded; they are a source of shame.

Yet mistakes are crucial to our development. Making mistakes means we're putting in effort. Working through mistakes sharpens our problem solving skills. Acknowledging mistakes helps us develop humility. Thinking about other people's mistakes helps us tap into empathy. And figuring out how to rise above "mistake shame" helps us become more resilient.

Communication is rarely perfect and right now we need to lean in to the possibility that we will make mistakes in service of standing up for human rights...which we all need to do RIGHT NOW. My recommendation? If you're struggling to find the "right" words, LEAD WITH VULNERABILITY. For example: "I'm pretty certain this is not going to come out perfectly, but here goes" or "I'm struggling to organize my thoughts so I'll just start" or "I am so scared to say this and I know it's important to do so."

I am here to support your imperfect, vulnerable communication.