Strategic or Vulnerable, Which is more important for women in the workplace?

Are you Team Strategic or Team Vulnerable?

Which is more important for women in the workplace?

Brene Brown's work on vulnerability emphasizes the importance of putting something out there where the response can't be predicted. Brown says we have to accept more difficult feelings like uncertainty and disappointment to feel a connection and pleasurable feelings, .

Rachel Sklar, on the other hand, in her article below talks about the importance of being strategic and reading the social environment. She essentially says that, given the data, showing up confidently (and authentically, truly yourself) is often not enough. Sklar says:

"Female CEOs are fired more often. Women are expected to offer favors more and be compensated less. There are social penalties for admitting to personal ambition, and when that ambition is realized, a woman's likeability takes a hit (whereas men would get a boost). After all, if a woman still deigns to be confident, she is marveled at and wondered about, but also, is on a very short leash."

Have you dealt with this issue before? How has vulnerability served you? How has being strategic been important? Are you Team Vulnerable or Team Strategy? Both? None? Please share your thoughts below.

Women get so many different messages to be more confident, to listen more, it's hard to know which works...but that's a discussion for another post.

Here's the link to Rachel Sklar's Article:

Sara Plaw is a Toronto-based Content Creator.  This blog explores the lives and contributions of historical and contemporary female figures who are often disregarded by the mainstream.