In our previous conversations with Stew Darling, BPTW™ Partner and CEO of Unstoppable Force, we explored why we must be unreasonable if we want to change things. And how captaincy as a service fuels high-performing cultures. 

In our latest conversation, Stew shared the one quality he believes underpins great leadership and truly unstoppable people - vulnerability. 

Vulnerability is not a word that often comes to mind when people talk about high performance or resilient teams. For many, vulnerability carries a cultural connotation of weakness - we’re taught to fear it, avoid it, and hide it. But here’s the truth: vulnerability is the ultimate act of courage. 

Here are Stew’s incredible insights on how leaders can (and should) embrace vulnerability as their secret weapon to becoming unstoppable.

The sacrifice that captaincy demands‍

In his time in the British Military, Stew signed a document committing to the ultimate sacrifice - his life. It wasn’t symbolic, it was real. But in business and in life, the ultimate sacrifice looks different. It’s not your life, it’s your vulnerability. Your ego. Your certainty. Your grip on the safety of the known.

Being vulnerable means being willing to tell the truth about your business, your leadership, your team, and yourself. It means opening yourself up to the possibility of criticism. Of being wrong, or not having all the answers. It means saying “Here I am, flaws and all. Let’s grow from here.”

As Stew says, “This is not weakness. This is strength. And it’s a choice.”

As captains steering the team forward, we have to choose to show up and step up. In business, nothing stays still. If you’re not moving forward, you’re falling behind. So, if we continue to do the same old thing and stand still, this is one of the biggest threats to business success. Because if an organisation is standing still, it's probably going backwards.

Vulnerability is a practice, not a personality trait‍

No one becomes vulnerable overnight. And no one becomes unstoppable by accident. Just like a muscle, vulnerability must be exercised. One small step at a time. 

This isn’t about stepping out of your comfort zone either. Because stepping ‘out’ implies loss. Instead, Stew offers a powerful reframe: step into the zone of the unknown. This simple mindset shift changes everything. Suddenly, you’re not retreating from safety; you’re moving toward possibility. 

Stepping into the zone of the unknown gives yourself permission to be uncertain. While our egos would prefer we just stay where we are and remain comfortable, stepping into the zone of the unknown allows you to take small steps into vulnerability, and discover it’s not as scary as you imagined. Over time, we build the courage to take larger steps. And remember, you can always step back.

Stepping into the zone of the unknown might look like small acts, but they hold massive power:

• Pivoting or adjusting your business model if it’s not achieving the success you need
• Owning mistakes or failures
• Asking your people to complete a Best Places to Work™ Employee Engagement Survey and being prepared to receive feedback
• Calling out behaviours that don’t align with your values - not the person but the gap between action and intention
• Saying “I don’t know”

These may be small steps into uncertainty, but they’re giant leaps for trust in leadership, connection with team, and growth. 

“I am enough” - the foundation of courage‍

Stew believes that at the heart of being vulnerable is the belief that I am enough. 

In a world obsessed with fitting in, being enough means knowing your values and living by them - even when others don’t. It means recognising that you don’t have to be perfect to lead. Indeed, you just need to be real. Because when we believe we are enough, we stop seeking approval. We stop hiding. We stop settling. And we start leading.

And if you’re not there yet, you’re not the only one. Stew suggests you start with a mirror. Literally. Look yourself in the eye and say “I love you”.  Try it. You may be surprised by what you feel. You may get emotional. And Stew says “That's ok! Vulnerability begins with self.” 

If you choose to live an unstoppable life, then the only option is to become more vulnerable. Because growth, in all its forms, is always uncomfortable. 

Bringing your people with you‍

What if you step first into the zone of the unknown and your team doesn’t follow?

Stew says, “That’s Captaincy.”

True vulnerability is contagious, but not instantaneous. It takes 30 days to build a habit, 90 days to build a new culture, and 10,000 hours to master. So, lead with tenacity. Be clear about your intentions. Celebrate every win, large or small. And remember, the people who resist vulnerability were likely already resistant to change. So this is not a reason to stop - it’s a reason to keep going. When you lead from within; with trust, purpose, and authenticity, you give others permission to do the same. 

Strengthen the unstoppable muscle‍

You don’t build an unstoppable life by doing one thing and then calling it a day. You build it by doing the next brave thing. And the next. And the next. 

Stew’s advice is to read widely, and reflect honestly. Read the stories of other leaders who have achieved, listen to their words, learn vicariously from their experiences. Surround yourself with people who challenge you. Get a mentor. Be a mentor. Just start somewhere. Vulnerability necessarily isn’t about grand gestures, it’s about the daily decision to show up, open up, and step forward.

And finally, Stew says, “Anything that feels uncomfortable, anything that brings a twinge of uncertainty - that’s exercising your unstoppable muscle. And that’s where growth lives.”

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Ready to step into the zone of the unknown? Start with a confidential and independent Best Places to Work™ Employee Engagement Survey to courageously understand how your team is really feeling. Or come along to one of our dynamic Masterclasses to spark new ideas and connect with other bold leaders.

And if you’d like to learn from Stew, or have him come into your organisation and help your leaders become bold, unstoppable Captains, head to the Unstoppable Force website.