When was the last time you did something truly vulnerable and shared it with your clients and prospects; even your family and friends?

I hope it was within the last week. You may think I’m crazy for saying this (or you may think it’s a no-brainer), but –

By being YOU is the perfect place to show a bit of your humanity… to let them in on some of your mistakes, as well as how you overcame them.

Yes it is a a risk. But it’s also good practice. Practice being vulnerable, that is. There is a connection between vulnerability, approachability and profitability. When you open yourself to the world, the world will opens its wallet to you. But only if you’re willing to strip away the superficialities and occupy your vulnerability.

There are two BIG reasons why you want to be vulnerable:
1. Showing that you’re vulnerable builds trust and understanding. People will like you better and want to connect if they get a sense of who you are under all that “expertise” or skill.
2. Being real is more fun and… well, more real!

Shelley with fellow FINA TOWSC member, Steven Munatones (USA) Director www.OpenWaterSource.com

And last week I did just that! I “stuffed-up” in my role as Technical Official at the FINA World Swimming Championships in Shanghai, China. I was told it is unacceptable to take photos whilst officiating on the feeding pontoon. Forget the fact that the photos were taken at a time when the race was happening 200m away and other officials were also violating this protocol, I had to “cop it on the chin” in front of forty-five international officials.

When I started writing the Champion Mindset Motivation ezine back in 2001, I had this idea that I needed to know more, seem perfect and be the “wise one” having achieved amazing feats as a 7-time World Champion with a proven track record of success.

Now in the Champion Mindset workshops and Mental Toughness coaching programs, I admit I have “stuffed-up” many times, even failed and then bounced back to go on and achieve higher heights due to my inner resilience; which has shown more of myself and relates to my clients.

So when I hear team managers, coaches and even small business owners say they don’t know enough to serve their niche market, it reminds me of me back then. But that’s just a lie we tell ourselves.

Of course, showing your vulnerability at 1on1 meetings educates your clients, colleagues and team mates. Some managers/team leaders/coaches will correct mistakes or take them step-by-step through how to do something. But your tips will land more deeply if you also share how you got there — which is almost always about fumbling into competency, right?

When I launched my Think Like A Champion blog in 2008, I started following some pro bloggers like Peter Godfrey, and I witnessed in his blog posts a kind of take-me-as-I-am transparency that really appealed to me. I noticed his posts attracted lots of comments.

So I shifted my approach by determining my target audience and developing strategies whilst redefining my own Champion Brand (the Business of Me) and as a result my motivational presentations and personal branding workshops are receiving rave reviews. I delivered the Champion Brand Promise and unleashed my inner winner sharing; “I’m comfortable in my own skin… and all its wobbly bits!” And it’s paying off.

Who knew? (You might be saying “Well duh, Shelley” but really, I’m not the only one this is a new paradigm for.)

This is the age of social networking. This is a time when having more fun and being more real is good business. The goal is to show more of who you are — just a regular Joe Blow or Jane Doe — while you also show your unique style, your extraordinary qualities and know how.

Believe me; you have a great story to tell. Everyone does. And stories rock! These stories are your Champion Brand Signature Style and knowing how to identify and present yourself by getting them into your marketing, your networking, your team meetings… everywhere where you connect with your people is the key to turning your know-how into profit or promotion.

Tell me what you think about this whole vulnerability thing and your brand signature style in the COMMENTS below. When you stuff-up what do you do and focus on to bounce back? If you’re hip to it, thanks for leading the way. If it’s new to you, I double dare you to share your vulnerability with your team/colleagues/family once a week!

And thanks for your loyalty with me through all the ways I keep learning to help you to get comfortable in your own skin, define, design and deliver your Champion Brand to dominate your marketplace / niche industry and achieve your goals better.

Cheers to you becoming the Champion of your own world!
Shelley Taylor-Smith

PS: following being reprimanded for my stuff-up in Shanghai, many officials offered their support saying they too have made errors and to not sweat the small stuff! Also I was reminded that I created history becoming the first female Chief Referee in a Men’s Open Water Swimming FINA World Championship event. (NB: achieved first for female Chief Referee in FINA World OWS Championships Roberval 2010) [read more...]

The BOMShell is happening around Australia! The Business of Me with Shelley Taylor-Smith: How to Use the Power of Personal Branding to Create Your Own Champion Brand workshops in Perth on Thursday, 11th August 2011. Sydney & Melbourne TBA September 2011.