This story was about how Robert Browning convinced his wife Elizabeth to publish poems that she had written to him while they were courting. Elizabeth was understandably reluctant to make her innermost thoughts public. However, she eventually did publish them and her work—especially the poem \u2018How do I love thee\u2019 is famous today. Elizabeth didn\u2019t feel that she had any special talent, it was her husband who recognized it and told her that her work was too important to keep hidden but should be shared with the world (p. 242). As a leader it is easy to share your ideas when you are convinced that they will work, but it is much harder to be vulnerable when you are unsure of your ability or of the merit of your ideas. Add to this an introverted personality and it becomes all the more difficult at times. When I taught alongside three educational support staff I struggled with this. These individuals had been previously trained to follow directions and keep their opinions to themselves. But I felt it was important that I create an environment where everyone\u2019s ideas were welcomed and equally valued. So I went out of my way to solicit their ideas and perspective; utilizing our collective experience and expertise to create my programs. Having said that, however, I was reluctant to share MY thoughts when I was stuck, especially when I was required to make decisions that I didn\u2019t have the answer for. My silence in those moments flew in the face of my hard work to create a collaborative environment. One individual who was a little bit insecure took it personally, and this grew into a conflict between us. I learned that as a leader, it is just as important to share your vulnerabilities as it is to share your great ideas. Had I done so she would not have misconstrued my silence and I would not have missed some great opportunities to learn and to grow in my role as a leader.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Barrett Browning, E. (1979). How do I love thee? Let me count the ways…. In L. E. Watson (Ed.). <\/span>Light from many lamps<\/span><\/i> (pp. 240-243). New York, NY: Simon & Schuster<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This story was about how Robert Browning convinced his wife Elizabeth to publish poems that she had written to him while they were courting. Elizabeth was understandably reluctant to make her innermost thoughts public. However, she eventually did publish them and her work—especially the poem \u2018How do I love thee\u2019 is famous today. Elizabeth didn\u2019t … <\/p>\n