The ‘Vulnerability’ Performance on LinkedIn

It was one of those quiet mornings where coffee meets scrolling.

Post after post filled my feed — announcements, promotions, reflections — and then there it was: a selfie with tears, a caption about burnout, and a flood of comments saying, “So brave".

I paused — not to analyse, but to notice. There was truth in the words, but also an effort I could feel. That quiet reaching we all have when we just want to be seen for who we are.

Somewhere along the way, vulnerability became not just a feeling, but a format. Something to be shaped, shared, and optimised for engagement.

And yet, I don’t believe this comes from vanity or manipulation.

It comes from longing.

Why We Feel the Need to Perform

It’s deeply human to want to belong.

We all want to feel connected — especially in spaces that often ask us to lead, perform, or prove our worth.

LinkedIn has become more than a professional platform; it’s a mirror reflecting who we think we need to be. It’s where we celebrate wins, share lessons, and reveal the moments that remind us we’re still learning.

When people open up about failure or fear, it’s refreshing. It reminds us that behind every polished profile picture is someone navigating the same human experience.

But as the call for authentic leadership has grown louder, it’s also created quiet tension. We’re told vulnerability builds trust — and it does — but it can start to feel like something we have to perform rather than something we choose to live.

The intention is connection.

The energy, sometimes, becomes pressure.

When Authenticity Becomes Expectation

The push toward authenticity was meant to set us free.

But in a world where everything can be shared, it’s easy to feel that being real requires being visible.

Every challenge becomes a story.

Every reflection, a post.

Every post, a signal that we’re doing the “inner work”.

It’s not wrong — it’s simply what happens when we equate openness with value.

But for many professionals, this can feel like standing in two worlds at once:

To be open, but not too open.

To be human, but not unpolished.

To share, but still protect your image.

We start to edit our truth into something tidy. Honest, but not too raw. Vulnerable, but still safe.

This isn’t manipulation. It’s self-protection wrapped in intention. It’s a quiet attempt to belong in a world that rewards both strength and struggle — but rarely both at once.

The Hidden Message Beneath the Performance

When we feel the need to “prove” our vulnerability, we’re often expressing something pure:

I want to be accepted as I am.

That’s not weakness; it’s wisdom.

It tells us that we’re craving deeper spaces for real connection — spaces where we don’t need to earn our belonging through exposure or applause.

Real vulnerability doesn’t need a stage.

It needs a soft landing — a place where we can speak our truth and still feel safe.

So maybe the question isn’t, “Why are people performing vulnerability?”

Maybe it’s, “What would happen if we didn’t need to?”

Communicating Without the Performance

Vulnerability doesn’t have to be dramatic to be powerful.

It can live quietly — in how we listen, how we write, and how we respond.

Here are a few ways to express authenticity with grace and ease:

✨ Speak from reflection, not reaction.

Pause before you share. Let the experience settle so your words come from clarity, not raw emotion. That space between feeling and sharing is where wisdom forms.

✨ Lead with learning, not loss.

Share what you discovered through the experience, not the weight of the moment itself. Insight connects; pain alone can overwhelm.

✨ Ground before you give.

Before you post, breathe. Ask yourself: Is this coming from wholeness or from wanting to be seen?

When you share from grounded energy, your presence does the connecting for you.

✨ Choose language that invites, not impresses.

Simple, real words carry warmth. They open doors for others to meet you in the middle — no polish required.

✨ Build safety offline first.

Before bringing a tender truth online, share it privately. The right listener will help you find the message within the story.

These small shifts transform the energy of what we share — from performance to presence.

A New Kind of Connection

We don’t have to perform to be real; we simply need to be present.

Presence changes everything. It removes the need for validation and replaces it with resonance.

When you communicate from presence, your energy speaks first. People feel your steadiness — your grounded truth.

It’s not about being perfect; it’s about being whole.

That’s what authenticity really is: a calm confidence that doesn’t require performance.

LinkedIn doesn’t need more exposure. It needs more embodiment.

Truth shared with awareness, stories told with gentleness and connection built through steady hearts.

When we shift from proving our vulnerability to living our truth quietly, we lead in ways that uplift others without draining ourselves.

The Real Power of Being Human

Maybe the most courageous thing we can do right now isn’t to show how open we are — but to live in ways that make openness safe again.

That might look like replacing self-disclosure with genuine curiosity, or letting silence do some of the speaking, or sharing our lessons when they’re ready — not when they’re raw.

Because real connection doesn’t come from performance.

It comes from energy.

When we share from presence, people feel it. When we speak from integrity, they trust it.

And when we create from grounded truth, we give others permission to do the same.

Less performance; more presence. Less proving; more being. Less “Look how real I am”; more “It’s safe to be yourself here.”

That’s the kind of authenticity the world is quietly craving — and the kind of leadership that changes everything.