BE 395: Don’t Be Vulnerable to Business English Mistakes
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Welcome to the Business English podcast from All Ears English. Get the English skills you need to achieve your dreams in global business. For a presentation, a meeting, or your office party, this is Real Business English with your favorite American hosts, Lindsay and Aubrey, coming to you from Arizona and Colorado, USA. Welcome to the Business English podcast from All Ears English.

Hey, Aubrey. How's it going today? I'm great. How are you, Lindsay? Good, good. I have a question for you. I want to know your opinion here. Nice. So,

So do you think it's good to be vulnerable as a person in general? I was going to say it depends on what you mean by vulnerable. Yeah. Right. In some ways, I don't want to be vulnerable. I don't want to be weak or, you know, set myself up to be injured or hurt. But when it comes to relationships, I do think it's good to be vulnerable. We use this two very different ways in English, right?

Oh, for sure. Yeah. In my opinion, it's in terms of being open to sharing your emotions, your thoughts, that kind of vulnerable. I think it's good at the right time in the right place. You know, that's a good point, too. Right. We're talking about being at work. Who should you be vulnerable with and why? It gets a little tricky because it's really meant for very close relationships.

Right. Or even let's say in the dating world, veering away from work for just a second here, you don't want to be overly vulnerable on a first date. You don't want to spill your guts, you know, on the first date. That's too much baggage, right? People are going to run away. Right. Let's wait. Let's give it a few dates. Keep it lightweight at first, right? Right.

And the same thing happens at work in the very beginning of our employment somewhere or depending on who we're speaking with. So we're getting into this today, this idea of vulnerability. Exactly right. A student asked in our Q&A about, you know, I feel like I'm seeing vulnerability, vulnerable mean two very different things. And they were correct. So we're going to share both meanings today and how we use them at work.

I love it. And before we get into that, I want to make sure our listeners know something they should do right away, which is go over and get on our exclusive access list. So Aubrey, next week or in the next few weeks, we're going to be releasing our new course called Professional English Level 1, which is perfect for anyone who is listening to this podcast and ready to up their game professionally in English at work. Yeah?

Are you excited for us? Yeah. It's going to be so exciting. There are a lot of skills that you need in English that we cover in this course. We have interviewed impressive native professionals. We cannot wait for you to get advice, business advice from them as well as learn these language skills. So get on the list now, allearsenglish.com/professional. Go to get on that list so you are one of the first to hear when it goes live very soon. allearsenglish.com/professional.

Okay, Aubrey, let's get into this. So you say there's a couple meanings for it, right? For vulnerable. What are the different meanings then? Yeah. So the first meaning to be vulnerable means susceptible to harm. So when we're talking about companies being vulnerable, right? Imagine you might say our company needs to uphold its HR policies. So we're not vulnerable to lawsuits.

This is the kind of vulnerability, that's the noun for this, vulnerability that we don't want, right? Right. Interesting. Yeah. And when I hear the word vulnerable, for some reason, I think of it more in the meaning we're going to talk about after this, the sharing of emotions. But you're right. This is definitely a legitimate meaning of being vulnerable, open to attack or harm or

or issues, problems. Exactly. Yeah, you'll hear this a lot from maybe a legal team will discuss with you the ways in which you are vulnerable and you're trying to shore up against that. You're defending preemptively against things.

So maybe here's another example, because of its mismanagement, the company was vulnerable to a hostile takeover, for example, right? Sometimes we open ourselves up to detrimental consequences if we are vulnerable in some way. Interesting. Yeah. And this is the way that lawyers think when they write contracts. They imagine the worst case scenario and they try to write that into contracts for you to protect you. That's why you hire lawyers in a company, right? Right.

Exactly. And I mentioned a hostile takeover. What is that, Lindsay? What's a hostile takeover? It sounds very foreboding. I guess I don't have a lot of experience with this kind of thing in the corporate world. I mean, I don't really know. It seems like it's when a company attempts to acquire another company against the will of the target company's

Management level, does that mean C-suite level, essentially? Even the CEO doesn't want it. Yes. Or without the approval of its board of directors. Often it happens when they directly appeal to the shareholders by their shares at a premium price to gain control. So this is very, I mean, it's underhanded. It is.

I would like to hope that it's rare, but I don't know. For those of you who have watched Succession, we witnessed a hostile takeover in that TV show. If you didn't, I do recommend it. It's fascinating, right? And it is based on...

loosely, I think, on a real world media mogul company. And so these things can happen, right? When people are more worried about making money or taking control over a company and they're willing to do anything to make that happen.

Wow. That is a whole world I don't even know about. That is really interesting. You got to watch Succession, Lindsay. I know. I remember you recommended that like a year ago and I never checked it out, but I'll have to check it out now. It sounds like a good one. I might get hooked, right? Yeah, maybe. It's again, definitely like the dark underbelly of the business world, but I mean, I think it exists and we just... Oh, for sure. Working for Allers English, we don't see that as much. No hostile takeovers happening here. Not much of an underbelly going on here. Right.

I love that. So then we talk about this word also as a noun, right? So how do we see it as a noun? Yeah. So vulnerability is the noun. This is the state of being exposed to the possibility of being harmed. So for example, you know, you might say, we need to assess any vulnerability this merger could cause. Mm-hmm.

So there it is as a noun form. Or recent tariffs have created vulnerability in our supply chains. Oh my gosh, yes. I've been listening to some podcasts about these tariffs and we don't quite know what's going to happen yet. I know. I know a few business owners that are very worried because their supply chains or manufacturing happens frequently.

outside of the US and they're concerned that they're going to have to shutter their doors because we don't know what will happen. Yeah, it's like an experiment in real time, right? We'll have to see. So, okay, let's get into the one that I feel we see more in pop culture. We see more on social media, this concept of being vulnerable.

So this is openly sharing emotions, thoughts, insecurities in order to build deeper connections and trust. So the question is, should we be vulnerable with coworkers or just close friends and family? I think it depends on the relationship. What do you think, Lindsay?

Yeah. And it kind of depends on the level of vulnerability. There are grades of vulnerability. That's a good point too. Yes. Yeah. That would be obvious to me. It's certain things you might share with a coworker, and then you might go deeper with a family member and be willing to just say more with them. Exactly. And you made the good point that this level of vulnerability, we won't get to on a first date. It really...

It's assuming that we know someone well, we know they will safeguard our feelings, anything we share with them, our history, right? You would have to feel very safe with someone to be vulnerable. Yes. And I love that we are pulling in Brene Brown here. How can we talk about vulnerability without talking about Brene Brown?

impossible. I know. Exactly. And I loved this in the Q&A when this was brought up. One of the other students brought this up. They're like, you have to listen to Brene Brown's TED Talk, The Power of Vulnerability. Yes. One of the most famous TED Talks, I would say. And made some really good points that vulnerability is not a weakness, but actually crucial, a crucial element for building meaningful connections and being authentic, being our authentic selves and living a fulfilling life. But really,

Really, the question is sort of like, how much do we do that at work? Only with coworkers who have become close friends, really. But then this authenticity, it's like you said, Lindsay, there are different levels of vulnerability.

Yeah, I love that Brene Brown went into this research. I think I'm not sure if she still labels herself this way, but at some point she was a shame and vulnerability researcher. And I'm so glad that someone in the academic world was willing to go there because I feel like a lot of academics just don't want to go there. These topics are squishy.

and they're very human. But we need this research so badly. Shame and vulnerability can affect us deeply, right? Absolutely. Yes, I agree. So definitely check out that TED Talk if you guys haven't looked into her research. I agree, Lindsay. I think it's vital to have an understanding of this topic. And I think it's really key to understand right now the kind of gender gap that we have going on in the US, which is dividing our politics,

There is a quote in that talk. I believe it's this talk where she, it's pretty striking if you listen to this talk and it gave me shivers when she quoted this. She did a talk on shame and vulnerability, I believe at a, I don't know, at a university or somewhere.

And at the end, it seemed well received. And then at the end, a man came up to her and said, you know, how can I be vulnerable when my my wife and my family expect me to ride in on my white horse and be the strong person? And he really brought a reality to her. And she mentions this in the talk. And it's striking because it sets up this idea that men are supposed to not be vulnerable.

Yes, it is very interesting, at least in US culture. And I believe in many cultures around the world, we do have traditionally this understanding that men are supposed to be strong and fearless, the breadwinner. And so that if men have this understanding of themselves, it would be difficult to be willing to be vulnerable ever, even with your partner.

It's really striking. So go check out her talk where she pulls in especially that piece because it really just hits you and you think, oh my gosh, yes, that's so true. We have a major challenge here around how vulnerable can we be or should we be? How does gender interplay there? Super interesting. Go check out Brene Brown. All right. Love it. Aubrey, where should we go from here?

All right. Well, let's dive into a role play. How about after a short break? Let's take a quick break. Let's do it. All right. Here we are. And in this role play, Aubrey, what are we doing? All right. You and I are co-workers and close friends at a company that has had recent layoffs. All right. Here we go. I'll start us. I feel like my job is vulnerable now that all these layoffs are happening. I'm right there with you. This vulnerability is not a great feeling.

I guess the company was vulnerable to closing down, so it was their only choice. I get it. Hey, how are things going with that guy you were dating? Oh, I think I need to learn to be more vulnerable. It's tough. No one wants to get hurt. Oh, yes. And that's the challenge in dating. You have to be somewhat vulnerable for people to connect with you and to be real, to be authentic. But if you're too vulnerable too early, like we said, it doesn't go well. Yeah.

Exactly. Right. So let's go through this. This clearly, we're coworkers, but we have worked together for a long time. We have definitely hung out outside of work. We have become friends, right? Because you're asking me about my dating life. We recently, if you scroll up BE or Business English 387, should you talk about dating at work? We brought this up. Who could you ask this question? So don't miss that. And because we got into it here, we know that the relationship is such that

you know, we would ask each other about our daily lives. I love it. So here we go. So first you said, I feel like my job is vulnerable now. So what are we saying? We're saying that we're seeing layoffs, right? It's at risk, right? My job is vulnerable means like there is weakness here. Something is at risk. I am concerned that I'll be laid off. And now we are using it as a noun. So this vulnerability is not a great feeling.

Yeah. So you're sort of saying like, I feel that too. We both feel vulnerable. And then you're naming that this feeling of this state of being vulnerable would say this vulnerability doesn't feel great.

Love it. And then you said, I guess the company was vulnerable to closing down. So it was their only choice, right? Yeah. So we'll use this adjective to describe a company. If they're having to merge, they might have to close down and their only option is to lay off employees. Exactly. And another way to say that we could say susceptible. I like the word susceptible as a bonus. They were susceptible to closing down, right? Love that. Yes, absolutely. And then I said...

You know, you're asking me how things are going with the guy I'm dating. I say, I think I need to learn to be more vulnerable. Like, I don't want to get hurt, but I'm feeling that I'm not opening up enough. And so there we're creating these walls. Hmm.

Interesting. Yeah, good word, really important word to insert in our conversations here. Aubrey, we've been talking about dating a little bit and there is a great episode on talking about dating at work that our listeners might want to check out now. Yeah, I wish you could roll up if you missed that. I intentionally added this to this role play because when we're talking about that second meaning for vulnerability, it is often about

our partner, our intimate partner, our relationships, who we're dating, are we willing to open up and be vulnerable, family? Exactly. And so don't miss that episode. Should you talk about dating at work? You definitely want those details.

I love it. So good. We'll probably have a great poll question today because I'm curious, you know, how vulnerable are our listeners at work? Like how much do you share at work with your coworkers? Maybe we'll create a poll question around that topic today. Yes. Come check out the Spotify poll. We want to know if you feel comfortable being vulnerable at work. So answer it. We will announce the results on an episode coming up.

Yeah. And remember, as researchers would say, vulnerability is a key to connection. It's just the right amount at the right time. Right? So that's what we have to figure out. Exactly. Right. As a takeaway, check out Brene Brown's research and kind of figure that out for yourself. Like how vulnerable should you be and when? I love it. Good stuff, Aubrey. Well, we'll see you back on here very soon. All right. Have a good one. You too. See you next time. Bye. Bye.

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