Unfiltered Thoughts: Humility in Leadership
Qualities of a leader: strong, confident, innovative, with great charisma.
Right?
That’s what many of us believe. But what about humility? Does being humble belong on that list?
I read an article in the Wall Street Journal last week that aroused this curiosity and my need to better understand the role of humility in leadership.
Now, before I go any further, I have to admit that it took reading the article several times before the complete meaning became apparent, partly because it was so dense (in a good way) and also because I found it to be such an unexpected place for a lesson in leadership.
The article titled Lessons in Leadership from the Hebrew Bible (Swaim, 2023) included many parallels between biblical and political figures, all labelled great historical leaders, and how their humility was a critical factor in their success.
What I took from the article was simple yet profound: successful leaders have empathy and an emotional and authentic connection to the people they lead.
To say that this was one of those proverbial A ha moments is an understatement.
Humble leaders possess qualities that contribute to their effectiveness, such as empathy, being ready to acknowledge and embrace their weaknesses and seeking help when needed.
The article articulated how humility in leadership is not one big thing but rather lots of small things that add up to leading with an open heart, listening with intent and having empathy for others.
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When I think about great leaders, I think of former President Barak Obama, who has served Thanksgiving dinner at a homeless shelter or NHL MVP and gold medal Olympian Sidney Crosby, who stays committed to his small-town values and Bill Gates, who routinely does the dishes after family dinners. These men are widely considered great leaders with undeniable humility.
So, back to my original question, does humility belong on the list of qualities that make a great leader? I think so.
These unexpected lessons got me to challenge what I considered to be the qualities of a great leader. I’m not sure I ever would have connected humility and leadership before this article, but now that I have, I’m open to exploring how humility can make me a better business owner, leader and partner.
I’d love your thoughts on this. Do you think that leaders need to possess humility to be great leaders?
Be authentic. Be real. Be kind.
-David
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Swaim, B (2023, November 23). Lessons in Leadership From the Hebrew Bible.
The Wall Street Journal, https://www.wsj.com/articles/lessons-in-leadership-from-the-hebrew-bible-religion-faith-character-values-politics-leadership-31aad1e0?st=xzg3qxfvoln6z41&reflink=article_imessage_share
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Founder, Producer & Host of She Lights the Way
11 个月Another great blog from the heart ~ thanks for sharing your thoughts, David. When I think of *great* leaders, the ones who come to mind are all humble. Interestingly enough, my examples all come from the sports world: Marcus Mariota, Justin Herbert, Sabrina Ionescu. (I think my Oregon Duck roots may be showing here!) They are all examples of phenomenal leaders (and G.O.A.T.s) who lead by example, and are lifelong learners on a journey to continually improve their talents.
Content marketing strategist and business journalist. I help B2B technology companies earn customers' attention with authentic content that addresses their needs, respects their time, and offers substantial value.
11 个月Certainly one can be successful without much humility, but success alone does not make a leader, and certainly not a *great* leader. Some amount of humility is an essential quality to inspire a truly loyal following because it helps form a stronger connection with others. Listening to advisors, acknowledging the contributions of others, and occasionally displaying one's own sense of humanity all help build the respect and support from others that a leader needs to reach greatness.
Brand + Communications Strategist | B2C Marketer | Content Marketing | Storyteller | Idea Catalyst
11 个月You need some level of ego to be in the C Suite, but the best leaders I have ever worked with or for were mid-level (not C Suite), and they all had humility as a trait that contributed to their excellence. Having the ability to relate and listen to people and have empathy goes a long way to creating a leader who does what is best for the company's goals and the people who work hard to make them happen. Humility is an attractive character trait as long as it isn't the leader! LOL