The culture of academia can make it difficult to express vulnerability, which requires us to show up as our authentic selves. Being vulnerable at work takes multiple forms: expressing uncertainty, thinking out loud before we’ve organized our thoughts, admitting mistakes and acknowledging challenges, and/or simply asking for help. All of these actions can be particularly challenging for folks who are what writer Melody Wilding calls “sensitive strivers,” i.e. former gold-star students who place high expectations on themselves and who overthink everything. It feels nerve-wracking to expose ourselves to judgement and scrutiny, whether real or imagined. Yet, when we have the courage to be vulnerable, even in brief moments, we create space for others to acknowledge the challenges that they carry into everyday interactions, consciously or unconsciously. There is a lot of content around this idea—see, for example, Brené Brown’s work on the power of vulnerability (a video with 22 million views) or this short piece in Harvard Business Review on how vulnerability can create “a more equitable and innovative world of work.”

Willing to explore vulnerability? Perhaps one of these starting points may be a place to start:

• Admit what you don’t know and seek help. Remind yourself that you don’t always have to be an expert. Everyone has knowledge gaps, and professional growth requires advice and support from others.
• Share personal experiences to build connections. Sharing a challenge you’ve faced—such as struggling with work-life balance, navigating career transitions, or dusting yourself off after a major setback—can create a sense of community when done with intention and relevance.
• Be open to feedback and growth. Whether it’s receiving student evaluations or input from a supervisor, you can show resilience through your willingness to listen, reflect, and adjust. Instead of responding defensively, you center curiosity and a commitment to improvement.

I encourage you to try it and see how it goes. By showing up authentically, we can foster an academic culture where challenges are acknowledged rather than hidden. And the next time you hesitate to be so open, remember that your honesty might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.

Sincerely,

Magdalena L. Barrera

Vice Provost for Faculty Success

You are invited to our Spring 2025 Excellence in Teaching Showcase on Monday, April 28th from 12-1:30 pm in IRC 202. The event will highlight innovative and creative activities faculty are doing in their classes. It will be a casual conversation among attendees with presenters offering informal demonstrations of activities, projects, and assessments. 

Please stop by, check out what your colleagues have created, and find out more about our exciting programs. Light refreshments will be provided.

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