Get Real: How to Captivate Your Audience with Vulnerability
We live in a world where polished perfection is often celebrated and low-key expected. Social media feeds are specifically curated, speeches are rehearsed to the millisecond, and leaders are expected to have all the answers. But here’s the truth I’ve learned both on stage and in real life: perfection doesn’t exist. But truth, relatability, and vulnerability do.
Vulnerability is one of those buzzwords we hear so much about but tend to misunderstand. Some people view it as weakness, others view it as a way to gain pity or even as a way to get things they feel they’re entitled to. But in storytelling vulnerability is one of the greatest tools you can bring to the stage. When you share not only your victories, but also your struggles, failures, and lessons learned along the way, your audience can see themselves in your story and they will listen.
Think about it. How often do we learn more from someone’s challenges than from their specially curated highlight reel? Vulnerability invites, empathy, connection, and trust. It tells your audience, “Hey, I’ve been there too.” and that’s what makes your message resonate long after the applause fades.
It’s important to remember that vulnerability creates connection, not distance. Some speakers fear that if they share too much, they will lose credibility, but the opposite is usually true. When used intentionally, openness and vulnerability make your audience lean in. They’re not looking for a flawless, robotic, rehearsed speech, they’re craving a human who understands their struggles and has been through what they’ve been through. They want a human who can understand where they are right now and how to get where they want to be (and just how difficult that might be).
Now I want you to remember that being vulnerable on stage is much easier said than done. It takes a lot of courage. The first time I shared my personal story on stage I was shaking. My voice cracked, I was nervous, and I questioned whether this was really a good idea. But afterward people came up to me with hugs, tears, and empathy saying “that’s exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you so much for sharing.” As a speaker, that changed everything for me.
So how do we share our vulnerability without over sharing or crossing over into the TMI category? It’s important to remember that being vulnerable doesn’t mean spilling every single detail of our personal lives. It’s about choosing moments, stories, and experiences that we learned from that can serve our audience. When deciding what to share ask yourself these three questions:
- What lesson can my story teach?
- How does this experience connect to my audience’s needs and struggles?
- Am I sharing this story for connection or am I seeking comfort?
When you filter your experiences through these questions, you ensure that your vulnerability is intentional and serves a purpose. It moves you beyond confession time and into transformation time.
Every time you choose to show up authentically, you give someone else permission to do. Your vulnerability is contagious in the best possible way. That audience member who hears your story might go home with the courage to share their own story with their partner, in the workplace, or even on a stage of their own. That ripple effect is why I believe vulnerability isn’t just a tool for storytelling, it’s your responsibility as a storyteller. When you bravely share your story, you don’t just build bridges with the people that hear it, you show them the path to get through their own struggles.
Remember, strength doesn’t come from hiding the messy parts of your story. It comes from embracing them. Vulnerability is the heartbeat of storytelling. It turns speeches into conversations, strangers into friends, and moments into movements. The next time you step onto a stage remember that your power isn’t in being perfect, it’s in being real and relatable.
Want to learn more about how you can share your story with confidence and impact? Book a free call with me HERE and let’s craft a story that will build bridges between you and your audience!