In an AI World, Brené Brown Says Vulnerability Is Your Competitive Edge

Start meetings with a quick, two-word check-in, said Brené Brown, the researcher behind one of the most popular TED Talks, "The Power of Vulnerability." 

Speaking at PCMA Convening Leaders in Houston this week, Brown explained why this simple practice matters. Each participant uses just two words to describe their current emotional state. The beauty of the exercise, she explained, is that it's brief while still allowing people to name their feelings without judgment. "There are a lot of heavy hearts in the world," she said.

The Power of Showing Up

While many view vulnerability as a weakness that should be avoided in business settings, Brown challenged this assumption. She argued that vulnerability is not about weakness but actually about strength and authentic leadership.

"Vulnerability is showing up and being all in when you can't predict the outcome," she said. "It's the willingness to show up, be uncomfortable, and realize that discomfort is what courage feels like, which is daring leadership."

This perspective resonated with many attendees. As Carrie Davenport, lead event manager for Altria, noted, "For a long time, the unspoken best practice in leadership was to leave your life, emotions, and words like vulnerability out of the workplace and now there's a shift to bring these back so that you can be the most authentic leader."

The Human Element

"What y'all do is really hard," Brown told the audience. "People are not okay today and it becomes even harder."

Despite these challenges, Brown emphasized the unique value of face-to-face meetings. "The heartbeat of what you do is connecting. Creating that experience where people feel seen and heard," she said. She noted that successful gatherings have a measurable impact: "When people leave gatherings, they have more energy than they brought."

This focus on meaningful connections is gaining traction in the industry. "I love the whole new trend where y'all are putting more real connection time together into the conferences that you're building," she said. "Let me tell you, that's paying off."

The Future of Leadership

Brown remained focused on human capabilities when addressing AI and other technological changes. "In being a successful leader, you must be good at building trust, engagement, human skills no technology can replace," she said. Her message was clear: "We need to get good at the skills of being deeply human. That will be all that is left."