Why even leaders get by with a little help from their friends

Why even leaders get by with a little help from their friendsWhy even leaders get by with a little help from their friendsI think of myself as strong.I landsee myself as someone who can manage a lot of stress. Who can get a tremendous amount accomplished in a day. Who can work long hours and pull through in clutch moments. Who doesnt give up in the face of problems, but works tirelessly until they are solved.I am a leader and fruchtwein leaders I know feel the same way. We have to - our companies, our employees, our clients, our families - they all rely on us to pull through in the clutch. And we do. Sometimes, in our skillful mastery of pressure, complexity, and accomplishment, we can feel super-human.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreBut then, on my way to dinner in New York with old friends from high school, my bicycle hit a pothole and stopped abruptly while I flew over the handlebars and slammed head-first into a parked car.Dazed, bloody, lying on the street, I couldnt think. Some people nearby came to ask if I was OK, but I didnt know. They asked if I needed water, but I didnt know. When I eventually staggered to me feet, they asked if I needed to sit, but I didnt know.Looking back on that moment, heres what I did know with absolute certainty I am very, very human.As a leader who advocates vulnerability as a strength, I am surprised to realize that I have, somehow, bought into the notlageion that I need to be super-human and that any weakness diminishes my leadership.In fact, I see clearly now that it is precisely the opposite. Not acknowledging our weaknesses is counter-productive for two simple reasonsOne, its unsustainable. Life inevitably catches up to us and then, eventually, we must face the inescapable reality that we are human, with weaknesses, flaws, and faults.Two, its poor leadership. Leadership is about connection. People will only follow you, work hard for you, create and risk and sacrifice for you, if they feel connected to you. So heres my question Will anyone ever be able to truly connect with you, really trust you, honestly give you their all, if you only reveal to them the parts of you that you think will impress them? How long do you think you can keep that up? How long before they become disillusioned?In other words, hiding our weaknesses in an attempt to be strong leaders makes us weak leaders. Our vulnerabilities make us most vulnerable when we pretend they dont exist.Heres whats important to remember our struggles do not define us any more than our successes do. You are not weak you have weaknesses. There is a difference.And from this place of humanness, that can hold both strengths and weaknesses, we can do the most leaderly thing there is Ask for help.When I eventually got up and stumbled to dinner, I was greeted by concern and support. My friend Toby got her car, threw my bike in the back and drove me to the emergency room. Pam, Susie, Nicky, and Vicky all came to sit with me at the hospital late into the night.I was lucky not to be alone that night, and that was thanks to my humanness, not despite it.And needing help - asking for help - is an essential part of being a leader. While Ive always known this, Ive also always secretly felt that its a leaders job to help others, not to need help.But thats a myth. The reality is that leaders who dont need help have no one to lead. People feel good when they help. They are inspired when they are needed. They dont think less of the people they help, they feel more connected.I am not superhuman. Nor are you. And thats not only OK- its better.This article originally appeared on Heleo.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people