Humility & Magnanimity
One important idea that surfaces repeatedly in the study of humble leadership is that humility and greatness create a powerful combination for leaders striving to make a lasting impact. In this context, greatness is referred to as “magnanimity.” These days, magnanimity is usually used as synonymous with generosity, but the classic definition is a bit broader. According to Aristotle, magnanimity is the virtue of action. It is not just about aspiring to greatness, but also about attaining it. The great Greek philosopher reasoned that the magnanimous person practices virtue and, therefore, considers themselves worthy of great things and honor.
Ancient theologians did not see any contradiction between these ambitious aspirations and humility. Thomas Aquinas argued that “a twofold virtue is necessary with regard to the difficult good: one, to temper and restrain the mind, lest it tend to high things immoderately; and this belongs to the virtue of humility; and another to strengthen the mind against despair, and urge it on to the pursuit of great things according to right reason; and this is magnanimity.”
With humility, you can have a clear understanding of yourself and your abilities. With that, you are able to perfect these abilities so you can achieve virtue and honor. In this sense, magnanimity and humility are two sides of the same coin: you need to trust in your own greatness (magnanimity) without losing sight of the fact that you owe that greatness to supportive people, positive forces, and favorable events (humility). You cannot become great if you are not prepared to serve others. And it is precisely in serving others that you become magnanimous.
Confidence is another key trait that pulls your followers towards you. Employees want to follow confident leaders who are decisive and have a strong sense of direction and vision.
However, as leadership expert Karin Hurt notes, “confidence, without humility, can be dangerous” because it can significantly limit the effectiveness of a leader. Confident leaders who lack humility may stay the course, but they don’t seek crucial input from others. They may get others to follow them, but they don’t get their full support. In a recent exchange, Hurt, the founder of Let’s Grow Leaders and a former Verizon Wireless executive, explained to me that while sometimes people think of confidence as the opposite of humility, we need to understand that it is an “and proposition.” When you have the confidence to set an audacious vision coupled with the humility to know your vulnerabilities and surround yourself with people who will challenge you, then you have a powerful combination.
When you combine high confidence and high humility, you become an “enabler leader.” You are not worried about being taken advantage of, because you have the confidence to speak up for yourself. You are secure enough in your own abilities that your focus is not directed towards receiving praise for yourself. Instead, you focus on the wellbeing of others, and you give credit to them for achievements. You lead for the long run and to contribute to the greater good. True confidence means that you become strong in your humility.
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Amer Kaissi is a Professional Speaker, Executive Coach, and Professor at the Department of Healthcare Administration at Trinity University. Check it out his new book “Humbitious: The power of Low-Ego, High-Drive Leadership .” This article is an excerpt from the book.