The Meteoric Rise of Humility in Modern Leadership

There is a seismic shift happening in the workplace.??

Employees desire more authentic and transparent leaders. Ones who genuinely prioritize their best interests, provide real-time feedback about their performance, and help develop their skills. Many managers and executives have taken note and have adopted a soft form of "servant leadership," yet too often, it becomes someone who says the right things, but their true actions and intentions tell a completely different story.?

What's emerging now is the realization that being a highly effective leader depends on the depth of your humility. Genuine humility is no longer a "nice to have." It's a benchmark for effective modern leadership.?

Humility is no longer a nice to have, it's a benchmark for effective modern leadership.

What is Humility in Leadership

According to research in the Academy of Management Journal, humble leaders "Embolden individuals to aspire to their highest potential and enable them to make the incremental improvements necessary to progress toward that potential."

Webster defines humility as freedom from pride or arrogance. Being humble isn't a lack of confidence or not believing in yourself. Quite the opposite is true. Freedom from pride and arrogance must start from a place of introspection. C.S. Lewis said, "Humility isn't thinking less of yourself; it's thinking of yourself less."?

For leaders, that means acknowledging your strengths without letting them inflate your ego. It means recognizing your weaknesses without allowing them to paralyze you from action.

What's most remarkable is the vast majority of genuinely humble leaders have every reason, because of their accomplishments, to reject humility, but instead, they embrace it. They don't just talk about it, but it's been developed over years of hard work and character development. It's as if, deep down, they understand that the path to effective leadership is paved with humility, not pride.

Great leaders understand that the path to effective leadership is paved with humility, not pride.

Our work at LearnLoft validates this. Organizations led by humble leaders tend to outperform those led by leaders ruled by ego. Humble leaders create a culture of safety, connection, and performance. They also tend to hire strong talent with shared values, welcome the best ideas, and learn from failure rather than blaming others.?

Unfortunately, most executives struggle to grasp this concept because their current title and power create a false belief that they are above or more significant than others. So not only is it painful to work with them, but it's excruciating to work for them.

How to Spot Genuine Humility vs. Ego Dressed in Humility?

It would be great if genuine humility showed up in pure sunlight, but that isn't always the case.? Manipulative or narcissistic leaders aren't dumb and can dress up the pig for each situation.?To get an accurate assessment, here are the ways to spot genuine humility:?

1. Accurate Personal Assessment - A humble leader accurately understands their skills, abilities, and limitations.?
2. Others' Focused - True humility involves willingly pursuing the good of another and putting others' needs ahead of their own.
3. Open to Ideas - Instead of needing to be "right," a humble leader strives to get it "right" regardless of who gets the credit.?
4. Acknowledge Mistakes - They don't sweep errors under the rug; they own up to them and use failure as a learning opportunity.?
5. Gracious in Defeat - When projects fail, or outcomes disappoint, humble leaders use the experience to fuel future success rather than blaming others or being bad sports.?

The difference between a leader who embodies these qualities and one who only imitates them is enormous for culture and longevity. Authentic humility builds trust, fosters creative thinking, and encourages accountability. Superficial leaders might momentarily rally people behind a charismatic facade but rarely sustain loyalty once employees sense the act.

What's most important about humility is that it doesn't have a timetable. There have been many leaders who led with ego and were humbled by choices or situations that fundamentally changed them for the better. The reason for this is it's often the challenge that changes us.??

It's the challenge that changes us.

How to Lead with Humility?

Start with the Truth

It's been said that all improvement starts with the truth. Recognizing that your title is temporary is essential. One day, someone else will occupy your current role, even if you're the CEO or the President. Accepting that leadership is a temporary stewardship eases the grip of ego and helps you focus on elevating others while you're at the helm.

Stay Curious and Coachable

Arrogant leaders tend to dismiss alternative viewpoints, rarely seeking counsel or coaching from others. In contrast, a humble leader remains coachable, regardless of experience or tenure. T.D. Jakes has this unbelievable quote: "The world is a university, and everyone in it is a teacher.? Make sure you wake up and go to school your entire life learning from both the good and the bad."?

What Jakes is saying is that the more you learn about something, the more you figure out you need to improve. If you stay curious and coachable your entire life, you will keep that ego in check.

Invite Accountability

True humility isn't cultivated in isolation. Leaders who openly invite accountability from peers, mentors, and team members stand a much better chance of staying grounded. Having people in your corner who are unafraid to highlight your blind spots is invaluable. Yes, it can initially sting, but embracing constructive criticism prevents complacency. More importantly, it models a culture of honesty and transparency for everyone else to follow.

Closing

Becoming a great leader does indeed depend on the depth of your humility. Your path to effective leadership is paved with humility and not pride. However, it doesn't mean it's easy, or it doesn't mean you won't have moments where pride or ego win you over. The key is recognizing these moments and returning to the humble path quickly.

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About the Author: John Eades is the CEO of LearnLoft and The Sales Infrastructure. He was named one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices. John is also the author of Building the Best: 8 Proven Leadership Principles to Elevate Others to Success. You can follow him on Instagram @johngeades.