Never just tech. How to be audacious in business and succeed.

Fredrick the Great was fond of saying, "Audace, audace. Toujours audace!"

Humility is the best possible path for anyone who is truly audacious. Once you embark on this journey, you will have the means to meet any business or leadership challenge.

There have always been men and women among us who are audacious. Their actions speak louder than words. Just examine the deeds of Mother Teresa and the HH Dalai Lama and you get the picture.

If you are still measuring your self-worth by the number of Facebook likes next to your name or by how many people follow you on social networks, then you better see a shrink. Social media at best is a measurement tool to ascertain the reach of your message. It is not an indicator of self-worth, trust, or integrity. At worst, it becomes a self-inflicted form of narcissism.

Hellen Keller often said, “The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart”. The biggest social disease in our contemporary culture is that most people measure success by how much money they have, the amount of achievements they complete, and how much influence they can leverage. Although accomplishments are noble, they should never be a pursuit within themselves.

Humility mandates authenticity. Nothing more is required. Be who you were meant to be. Forget the hubris of superficiality. The word “humility” comes from the Latin word “humus”, which means “earth.” You can clearly see without being a behavioural psychologist that this means being grounded. It also means being so comfortable with your Self that you never have to call attention to anything that you do.

Certain influential and powerful people believe that this is a sign of weakness or insecurity. Quite the contrary. It demonstrates an inner strength. It radiates a huge reservoir of resolve, integrity, and ethics. Acting in this manner makes you stand tall even when you are sitting down.

The path to business success: how to harness the 5 qualities of audaciousness

Selflessness

A great place to begin is to stop beginning everything you say with “I”. Such statements are often off-putting such as “I make a huge salary.”

When I work with new clients, I train people to be conscious of this “I” principle. It is better to steer the conversation into a discussion where you are not the center of attention. It also highlights that you are listening to the other person not the sound of your own voice.

A word of caution: Don’t avoid “I” when required nor refer to yourself as “We” unless you are speaking on behalf of a group. Finally, when you keep your thoughts grounded, your message will come across as sincere.

Modesty

A second noble quality of humility is modesty. I know many people who epitomise this quality. One such person, who I am currently working with never mentions how much she has empowered disadvantaged women across Africa. Her goal has been to help them create their enterprises by providing counsel and capital. When you read what she has accomplished you want to join her organisation and lend a hand. Not only does she never brag, her focus is on how much more there still is to be done.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t “sell” your accomplishments when the need arises. Do so, by recognising who is the doer of all actions, to paraphrase Lord Krishna.

Authenticity

Another way to project humility is to show your true Self. No one being is perfect in the way homo sapiens define this term. We all have flaws and we all are works in progress. Remember, life is a journey, not a destination. Embrace your Self. Love your Self. If something doesn’t work out, which is more often than most people will admit in public, face the music with honesty and integrity.

Take the following classic interview question as an example: “Tell me about your greatest failure?” There is nothing wrong with not succeeding. It’s how you share the narrative. What the interviewer is waiting to hear is: What did you learn from your setback?

Graciousness

The fourth cornerstone of humility is graciousness. Yes, you heard me right. Giving thanks to everyone who contributes to the project you are working on. Success is a support system, not a one-man or one-woman venture. No one succeeds in a vacuum. If you look in your heart, you will recognise this simple truth. We are where we are because of our friends, family, colleagues, and mentors. It’s people like us who make other people’s success happen.

Take the case of Jean Francois. At his annual performance review with his supervisor, he stated: “I loved leading that team, which was so focused on the product launch last month. Together, we achieved more than any of us had ever imagined.”

Respect

The last quality of humility engenders respect. Aretha Franklin was right when she belted out that song. Mutual respect should be common currency. In our world, too many people are still crass and selfish. Respect is divinity itself. It keeps us real and as I said previously, well-grounded. As one Indian sage often exclaimed, “Love all. Serve all.” This is the true meaning of respect.

Treating others with kindness and understanding is just for starters. Listening to others and honouring their diversity, you will become a star that shines with a constant light.

About the author

Andrew Scharf is an Award-Winning MBA Admissions Consultant and also offers ?? Executive Coaching ?? He is widely recognised for helping top performers and aspiring professionals be all they can be. His?mission is to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world at Whitefield Consulting .