Is ‘vulnerable expert’ an oxymoron?
I don’t think so.
Being an expert means having answers. Knowing what you’re doing. Being the go-to person when others are uncertain.
Being vulnerable means admitting when you don’t know. Being open to challenge. Asking for help.
At first glance, vulnerability and expertise seem to contradict each other. But what if they don’t?
What if being a vulnerable expert is exactly what makes you most effective?
It’s hard to be vulnerable when people expect you to have all the answers. But without vulnerability, expertise becomes unapproachable, inaccessible, and ultimately useless. If people can’t connect with you, they won’t ask, they won’t listen, and they won’t learn.
The most influential experts aren’t the ones who pretend to - or do - know everything. They’re the ones who make it safe for others to engage, challenge, and understand
Because expertise isn’t just about what you know. It’s about what you can share.
And vulnerability is what makes that possible.
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