You may not notice, but everything you do as a leader is affecting your people. If you’re having a lousy day, your folks pick that up and will reflect it by being brittle and tense.

Which then affects customers and everybody else.

But you also don’t want to live life behind a mask, right? Just put on the “inspiring, confident leader” face 24/7?

That’s one of the big challenges we all face.

I’ve found that the answer lies in vulnerability. If you are having challenges, trust your team enough to be honest with them. Tell them that you’re having a rough time and may need their help to get through it.

You’re sending out ripples of honesty and compassion. Yes, they may not respond with all the grace and love that you might hope. That’s what it means to be vulnerable.

But it sure builds a stronger, more emotionally resilient team.