How can you develop humility in the workplace?

Humility is something I believe is developed at an early age, at home. When you learn gratefulness, you learn humility. In my opinion humbleness can be equated to the opposite of entitlement. In your later years if you hadn’t learned humbleness from childhood, it is not too late. Take a moment to reflect on your life. Do you know someone who has lost a parent, while you still have yours? Do you know someone who has lost a sibling, a child or a job, yet you still have yours? Pause and think about what could have been…have you had “close calls” with your own life? These are things to sit with and truly be grateful for. Now apply this trait in your professional setting - be grateful for knowledge sharing and your ability to keep learning also.

Self-assessment, including cultural self-assessment, is difficult. We often lack the ability to objectively assess our strengths, and even in the face of objective data, we often tell ourselves that those who did better than us were "lucky." In short, our self-assessment is often influenced by our emotional investment in maintaining a certain self-image. We can get better at self-assessment if we understand the emotional underpinnings of our reactions and address the conditional nature of our self-acceptance. Decoupling our performance in specific areas from our overall sense of value allows us to maintain healthy unconditional self-esteem while humbly acknowledging our weaknesses.

Humility is a continuous practice requiring self-awareness and a commitment to personal development. That’s easier said than done. However, here are some of the guiding principles that I have found quite effective: Admit your mistakes and take responsibility for your actions. That demonstrates accountability and a commitment to learning. Celebrate others’ successes, but always put it into the context of the communal effort of the whole team. Last but not least: listen actively to your colleagues and superiors. Understanding someone else’s perspective, before responding, is a key aspect of humility.

A good start to humility, in any environment, is simply to look and listen first. It isn't a complex thing; one just observes with all one's perceptions.

Be ready to welcome support from those who are stronger than you. Use your strength to help those who are weak. Operate with the mentality that your team is as strong as your weakest link

People are actually really cool. Taking the time to share genuine interest goes a long way in eliminating stereotypes and counteracting deeply held, often unintentional stereotypes. Even those that we are most unfamiliar with or disagree with are worthy of appreciation as professionals. The diversity of experiences, backgrounds, personalities, perspectives, thought, and other dimensions only serve to enhance individual, team, and organizational output when anchored by shared goals.

Especially as a leader don't lose your humility. Stay grateful and be emphatic. Never forget that a company's success comes from the team. I surrounded myself with people that are experts and more knowledgeable than I am in their specific field. My job is to support and empower all of them. Be considerate of everyone’s story, be appreciative of their contribution to the company’s success and don’t ever put yourself on a pedestal. When you have a team of committed, motivated people who are genuinely trying their best, you can consider yourself very lucky.

Thank those who have helped you as an individual and appreciate those who prevent you from derailing through their opposition to your views

Demonstrating empathy genuinely. Able to relate, and able to walk in others’ shoes free of bias and prejudices. Showing understanding and compassion.

Reciprocity -- leaders can build trust and foster collaboration by demonstrating a willingness to give and receive, creating a sense of mutual benefit. This can be achieved by showing respect, appreciation, and generosity to others, which in turn makes them more likely to cooperate and reciprocate. Leaders can use reciprocity to create a culture of collaboration in their teams by giving their time and support, and in return, expecting dedication and commitment to the goals of the organization. Reciprocity and showing appreciation builds trust – a key ingredient to effective leadership.

Maintaining humility in the workplace involves acknowledging that, regardless of one's position, everyone has blind spots. Actively seeking feedback not just as a noble gesture but a sincere recognition of personal flaws and an unwavering commitment to continuous improvement, fostering an environment where learning and growth are valued at every level.

Seeking feedback is essential as it provides valuable insights for growth and fosters better understanding, improving both personal development and team dynamics.

Getting honest and graceful feedback is important. For feedback to be effective it has to be delivered with respect and objectivity. When giving feedback, focus on the behavior and issue and not the person. It is preferable to let the person receiving your feedback know that you care about the person most.

Embracing challenges by being curious will change your outlook when things get challenging and you need to do some self-reflection. We often resort to shaming ourselves when we avoid things that don’t come naturally to us. However, when we take the time to ask ourselves questions from a non-judgmental place, we can determine where we need to grow a lot faster and gain clarity on where we can ask for help from others. Showing vulnerability with yourself and others can set an example in the workplace that it’s okay to admit when you’re struggling so you can get the support you need instead of suffering in silence. We can’t do it all by ourselves all the time!

Embracing the fact that we grow from our mistakes is the best way to overcome any challenge. Roll with the resistance and don't take it personally. Once we overcome challenges we are immediately better at the task at hand. Once we are not afraid of challenges, we start to win and growth without limits.

One of my favorite quotes is, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” -CS Lewis Moving from an operations level position into leadership and management requires a mind shift. The new role requires you to think at a higher level and look at the organizational output from all stages. You can’t do that when you are focused on yourself. Developing a team will require you to consider everyone within the group to help support their goals and productivity. When you understand humility, you know your rewards come as the team succeeds. A “selfless leader” is a supportive one who bends and molds with the needs of the team so you ALL can win. ??

Being vocal about your mistakes showcases vulnerability which is a necessary skill set for leadership courage. Admitting mistakes reintroduces humanity in the workplace and creates more of a sense of belonging and community.

As a leader, admitting your mistakes and what you’ve learned from them creates a culture that values growth and accountability. When people understand the goal is growth and not perfection, they can operate from a place of freedom that inspires creativity and innovation.

By being vulnerable we encourage those around us to be vulnerable too. By admitting mistakes we show that are human. Humanistic leaders who build rapport and trust by being genuine will create a sense of connection and mutual respect. By fostering positive connections, being relatable, and demonstrating honesty through the admission of mistakes, a leader will be more respected and thus more influential. Likeable leaders are seen as approachable, empathetic, honest, and trustworthy, which can inspire their employees to work to their full potential. By being honest, a leader creates a supportive and inclusive work environment which will lead to positive change and foster innovation and creativity.

As a supervisor and a parent, I learned to be transparent about my mistakes. Letting the people around me know that I am also still learning and growing every day, made me more approachable and easy to work with. Admitting my mistakes also allows me to learn the most because I am open with questions and opportunity to get better.

Notice when you are making everything about you and call yourself on it. Shift yourself to the background and disappear that ego for awhile. Then bring yourself to full presence with others. Enjoy being in their shoes for awhile.

Accomplishing projects without the support of our team, peers, managers and customers is nearly impossible. Sharing credit not only showcases leadership's team-building skills but also foster a positive, energetic team spirit. Recognizing that success isn't an individual's achievement but a collective team effort helps build a stronger and more cohesive team.

Cultural humility involves: Replacing frustration with curiosity amid complexities. Embrace a continual learning and exploration mindset, recognizing the richness and value of differing perspectives. Reorienting your internal dialogue and worldview, which shapes how you interpret and interact with the world. Challenge your assumptions and biases to foster a more inclusive perspective. Welcoming new experiences with an open mind, minimising culture shock in diverse interactions. Cultivate adaptability and understanding in multicultural settings. Prioritise empathy over judgment. Foster an environment of compassion and openness where diverse viewpoints and experiences are respected and valued. Good luck :)

Building an organisational culture of excellence where taking care of one another and focusing on what matters most is valued through the key behaviours of empathy, compassion and appreciation. Not only putting yourself in others’ shoes and understanding different perspectives by listening, demonstrating empathy and appreciating others but also extending a helping hand by reaching out to others and collaborating with compassion.

Recognize your limitations: No one knows everything, and accepting your areas for improvement opens doors to learning and growth. Embrace a growth mindset: Believe that your abilities and knowledge can be continually developed. Be open to new ideas: Don't be afraid to challenge your own assumptions and consider alternative perspectives. Own your mistakes: Take responsibility for your errors and learn from them. Give credit where it's due: Recognize and acknowledge the achievements of others. Treat everyone with respect: Be courteous and professional regardless of their position or title. Find a role model: Observe leaders who exhibit humility and learn from their behavior.

Compare your actions to your values: do your actions align with values of humility, including openness to learning, respect for others, vulnerability and giving others credit for their contributions?

Never secumb to specialness. True humility is knowing you're special because the people around you are also special. Your existence within any organization means nothing without the people around you. It's the South African philosophy of Ubuntu which states, "I am because we are."