#PeoplePrism - Humility

“Tujhe maloom hai India mein sabse zyada kya manufacture hota hai? Heroes aur Bhagwaan. Actually hum Indians ko hero banane me mazaa aata hai” – Famous lines from a blockbuster series 1992 Scam based on the life of Harshad Mehta. These lines stuck with me.

When we look around us, and sometimes within (hopefully), we realize that almost all of us spend an inordinate amount of time projecting the best in us. From our display pictures on social media, to our reels and stories, the LinkedIn page and the Twitter Bio they all tell tales of how special we are and the great things we accomplish in our day to day lives. Social media has accentuated this insatiable appetite to be seen & liked.?

Whether at work or in our personal lives, we want to project that we are super achievers. At times, we’re willing to go the extra mile and create this perceived alternative reality for ourselves. A toddler is taught how to answer school admission interview questions, teenagers are groomed for confidence, professionals are trained on executive presence. Success is glorified beyond measure and failure is not an option. Sportspersons, movie stars, politicians, businessmen, corporate honchos – all demi Gods are placed on a pedestal in an elusive pantheon. Aggression is revered and ends justify the means. Numbers talk and nobody listens. This has a ripple effect on our egos.?

This is the context in which I wanted to speak to you about a virtue that is slowly heading towards extinction - Humility

I wonder if there is credible research available around the importance of humility and its contribution to leadership success. So what exactly is humility? Oxford dictionary defines it as “The quality of not thinking that you are better than other people” – Okay, but wait, We’re wired to think, act and behave as if we’re better than other people – How else will we succeed in a pool of 1.5 billion people!

At first glance, humility seems like a negative quality, almost like a sign of weakness rather than a strength. In reality, humility is a type of modesty that will get us very far in our life as a person, a contender, and a leader.?There is no room for an arrogant person to improve themselves because they do not recognize their flaws. The problem is in our pursuit – We pursue being better than others rather than attempting to reach our own full potential, being the best version of ourselves!

Why is Humility important?

Humble people don't lack pride in their accomplishments. They just know the time, place, and tone with which to share their strengths with the world. Humility is the greatest ingredient and starting point of self-improvement. It fuels our growth and coachability. It contributes vastly to our inner well-being and mental peace. Becoming frustrated and angry at failure comes with any struggle in life. It’s important we understand humility to be able to better navigate those losses and pick ourselves up after the falls. It might sound counter-intuitive, but the more humble you are the more resilient you can be.?Identifying and avoiding threat, is our most primary subconscious response honed through evolution. People in general are more receptive towards humble people. Your humility reassures them that you are not a threat and therefore they’re more likely to align with you. Humility hence, it truly the most core ingredient for successful leadership.?

How to cultivate Humility – Simple Toolkit?

1.?????Being honest with yourself

The starting point of knowledge and improvement in being aware of the gaps. Reflection helps us identify areas of strength and how to put those strengths to the best use. Reflection helps us learn from our mistakes and our own behaviours and its impact on the others around us. It helps us develop gratitude and empathy which go a long way in helping us cultivate humility

2.?????Seeking guidance and help

We often feel asking for guidance or help, makes us weak and vulnerable. That is farthest from the truth. It would be foolish to think that we know it all. The world moves around due to collaboration. When we seek help, guidance, mentorship or at times, just plain opinion, it nudges us gently towards cultivating more humility and opens us up to limitless possibilities of collective wisdom

3.?????Focus on purpose

Remind yourself every morning why you’re doing what you do, and how you can achieve your goals. Doing so just might make you understand the importance of what you’re doing, help you meet your goals, and help you inspire others to pursue their passion. Focus on purpose helps declutter the noise around and centers your attention to the things that matter most to you. It seeks to address the most basic and important questions that govern all our thoughts, actions and behaviours. It brings us closer to our real selves.?