The Power of Vulnerability
As a professional songwriter, vulnerability has been my stock-in-trade for over thirty years. Plumbing my emotional depths to write a song that is not only moving to me but also to those who listen to it is critical to achieving my goal of connecting to others through my music. So you can imagine my surprise - when I began teaching business teams to write songs - at the resistance the typical corporate executive displays to making themselves vulnerable in a work setting. It also served as a good reminder to take a moment and list a few simple reasons why vulnerability is essential for all of us no matter what our profession.
You get to what’s real
If your guard is constantly up, it will be almost impossible to get to the heart of any discussion or project. It is only though taking the risk of making your true feelings known that you’ll make any progress toward the deeper understanding that is the hallmark of truly resonant results. On top of that, vulnerability - in an environment where it’s encouraged and well-received is be both freeing and exhilarating.
It helps you connect with each other
Collaborations can be sources of genuine power and productivity. That being said, a collaboration doesn’t function well just because people have been put together. It is only through a willingness to be vulnerable that genuine bonds are built and real progress is made.
It brings your work to a wider audience
The creation of any work that is designed to fill - or anticipate - a need in the marketplace is equally dependent on vulnerability. Without the courage to express how your work makes you feel, there is a high likelihood that they won’t make a true connection with anyone. Whether they can articulate it or not, vulnerability (aka sincerity) can be felt on a fundamentally human level and its absence will leave your intended audience cold.
Conclusion
Let me be clear. There is a time and place for vulnerability. Going around with your heart constantly on your sleeve will be exhausting not only for you but also for everyone around you. For example, my favorite expression to describe songwriters is “emotional nudists” and, as you might imagine, that isn’t always appropriate. However, thoughtful and deliberate vulnerability in the context of your creative work will pay greater dividends than you could ever imagine.
Bio
Cliff Goldmacher is a GRAMMY-recognized, #1 hit songwriter, music producer and author with recording studios in Nashville, TN and Middle River, MD. Through his studios, Cliff provides songwriters outside of Nashville with virtual, live access to Nashville’s best session musicians and studio vocalists for their songwriting demos. Find out more. You can also download Cliff’s FREE tip sheet “A Dozen Quick Fixes To Instantly Improve Your Songs.”
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