Humility

DEFINITION

The ability to admit mistakes and learn from others

WHAT IS IT?

Humility is not as simple as lowering of oneself or relinquishing personal ambition. It is a realistic attitude that acknowledges that all humans are flawed, and it is a learning orientation that strives for self-improvement. A truly humble person admits fault and is able to give credit where credit is due.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Humility is the hallmark of a mature and capable leader. A humble leader is confident in his/her personal accomplishments and therefore able to share credit with others. In his or her pursuit of self-improvement and learning, the humble leader is also willing to admit fault. Both of these actions can improve team morale, increase buy-in from others, and strengthen the unity of any organization. Humility is a truly disarming trait. It has the power to calm escalating conflict, drive organizations, and create meaningful change.

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Suggestions for Improvement

Encourage and Appreciate
One way to identify a humble leader is by his or her ability to give genuine and meaningful affirmation. This often takes the form of gratitude, praise, or recognition. Consider those around you, and think of some words of affirmation that speak positively of that person’s character or ability.
Receive Feedback Mindfully
Receiving positive or negative feedback gracefully is difficult, and both require great humility. Focus on responding to criticism patiently, politely, and with an open mind. When we fail to practice humility in this arena, we typically come across as arrogant and cheat ourselves out of an opportunity for self-improvement. Receiving positive feedback with humility is an equally important skill. Practice gratitude for positive feedback and avoid deflecting or minimizing positive feedback from others.
Cultivate a Healthy Sense of Self
Finally, the most humble people show understanding and contentment with themselves. Being comfortable in one’s own skin allows the humble leader to distribute praise to others and receive both positive and negative feedback with grace. Contemplate your own strengths and weaknesses, and do your best to come to terms with them. To help cultivate a developed and positive sense of self, find a trusted friend or colleague and practice the previous two steps for improvement. Trade encouragement and feedback, and then practice receiving feedback. Perhaps even give feedback on how you both received those words from each other (yes, feedback on feedback).

Books to Read

Humility In Uncertain Times

Matt Rawlins expands on Jim Collins’ idea of a “Level 5 Leader.” Rawlins pushes the conversation further by discussing humility as a leadership trait and an avenue to create trust and transparency in organizations.

Humilitas

Speaker and historian John Dickson shows how the virtue of humility was an important character trait for the ‘greats’ of history and figures prominently in the findings of psychology and sociology. Developing humility can transform your personal relationships and professional dealings.

Leading with Humility

The media is saturated with images of leaders as powerful, headstrong individuals, who are certain of their position and willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their organizational goals or personal ambitions. In reality, far too often, a leader’s ego gets in the way of sound decision making, adversely affecting the organization and the individuals involved.

Humility Is the New Smart: Rethinking Human Excellence in the Smart Machine Age

We need to be humble enough to let go of the idea that “smart” means knowing the most, using that information quickest, and making the fewest mistakes. Instead, we need to cultivate important abilities that smart machines don’t have (yet): thinking critically, creatively, and innovatively and building close relationships…

Humble Inquiry: The Gentle Art of Asking instead of Telling

Communication is essential in a healthy organization. But all too often when we interact with people—especially those who report to us—we simply tell them what we think they need to know. This shuts them down. To generate bold new ideas, to avoid disastrous mistakes, to develop agility and flexibility, we need to practice Humble Inquiry.

Websites to Visit

The Best Leaders Are Humble Leaders

The article explains “intellectual humility” and its necessity in the modern workplace.

Humility: The Secret To Confident Leadership

This article discusses the link between humility and confidence in leadership.

The Paradox Of Humility In American Business And Society

This article discusses the importance of humility in spite of its absence in traditional business education.

Use Humility to Improve Performance

This article explains how humility can lead to increased performance for leaders and employees.

Six Principles for Developing Humility as a Leader

This article discusses practical steps to develop humility as a leader.

Humility

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