The Value of Humility: An Overlooked, but Game-Changing Quality

Humility is a quality often undervalued in coaching and wider society, yet it has the potential to make a significant impact on relationships, collaboration, and performance. Embracing humility as a core value allows coaches and athletes to build stronger connections, foster a team-first mentality, and achieve greater success on and off the pitch. In this article, we will explore the role of humility in sports, drawing on insights from research on humility in various contexts, and highlighting stories of athletes, teams, and coaches who have demonstrated the power of humility at various levels of competition. Remember, humility isn't about downplaying your strengths, but finding a balance between modesty and arrogance.

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How can you, as a coach, apply the lessons of humility from different contexts to your work with athletes and teams?

The Role of Humility in Sport and Society

Research has shown that humility can positively influence personal development, relationships, leadership, decision-making, and workplace performance. As Peter Bregman highlights in his Harvard Business Review article, "Humility is a powerful tool for influencing others, building better relationships, and becoming better leaders." In sport, humility translates into better teamwork, more open communication, and a stronger focus on collective goals rather than individual accomplishments. Athletes and coaches who exhibit humility are often better equipped to adapt to challenges, listen to feedback, and work together towards success.

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How can you demonstrate humility in your coaching practice to build better relationships with your athletes and wider coaching team?

Humility in Sport?

Tim Duncan, NBA Player: The legendary NBA player, known for his quiet demeanour and humble attitude, always put the team's success first. His quote, "Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best," embodies his relentless pursuit of improvement and commitment to the team.

How can you instill a similar mentality of continuous improvement in your team culture, while emphasising the importance of humility?

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Abby Wambach, Footballer: Abby Wambach consistently praised her teammates and demonstrated gratitude for their support, emphasising the importance of collaboration. She famously said, "I've never scored a goal without getting a pass from someone else."

How can you encourage your athletes to appreciate the contributions of their teammates and recognise the value of collaboration?

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Sir Alex Ferguson, Football Coach: Manchester United's most successful coach displayed humility throughout his career by empowering young players, listening to his coaching staff, and adapting his strategies for long-term success. His focus on player development and collaboration reflects his belief that "For a coach, there's no better sight than seeing youngsters improve, develop, and gain confidence."

How can you create an environment where young athletes feel supported and empowered to grow, both as players and individuals?

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New Zealand All Blacks Rugby Team: The All Blacks embody humility as a core value in their team culture, with a focus on the collective rather than individual success. Former All Blacks Captain Richie McCaw explained the team's approach to humility by saying, "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less."

How can you incorporate humility as a core value in your team's culture, emphasising collective success over individual accolades?

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Roger Federer, Tennis Player: Despite being one of the most successful tennis players in history, Federer remains grounded and respectful of his opponents and fellow players. His humility is evident in his statement, "I always knew I had something special, but I didn't know it was this extreme. Humility and knowing I can get better is a good thing."

How can you help your athletes remain humble and grounded, even as they achieve success?

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The Importance of Humility for Coaches

As a coach working at any level, embracing humility can have far-reaching benefits. By fostering an environment that values humility, you encourage athletes to focus on the team's success over individual achievements. This mindset promotes collaboration, communication, and a strong work ethic. Terina Allen's Forbes article "Humility in Leadership: Strength in Vulnerability" emphasises that "a leader who embraces humility will have a workforce that is more engaged, more collaborative, and more willing to go above and beyond to ensure success." Coaches have an opportunity to model humility, while remaining authentic, it can also act as a way of giving permission for the athletes in your care to be okay with 'not-knowing'.

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How can you demonstrate humility as a leader, and in doing so, inspire your athletes to be more engaged and collaborative?

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Moreover, a humble coach can lead by example, demonstrating the importance of adaptability, lifelong learning, and respecting others. Ellen Hendriksen, in her Psychology Today article "The Upside of Humility in Decision Making," explains that "the more we admit we don't know, the more we open ourselves up to learning from others and leveraging the collective wisdom of the group." As a result, athletes will feel more empowered to share their insights, ideas, and concerns, contributing to a stronger team culture and better overall performance.

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How can you cultivate an atmosphere where coaches and athletes feel comfortable admitting what they don't know and sharing their ideas for the benefit of the team?

Humility is a quality that can permeate through relationships and team culture, impacting the world of sport and society as a whole. Placing relationships front and centre, fostering collaboration, and enhancing performance. By embracing humility and integrating it into coaching practices, sports coaches can unlock the full potential of their athletes and teams, ultimately paving the way for long-lasting success in their careers.

As Juliana Breines notes in her Greater Good Magazine article "The Surprising Benefits of Humility," humility can "help us to be more accepting of others, less judgmental, and more open to learning and personal growth." By applying these principles in sports coaching, we can create a positive impact not only in our athletes' lives but also within the wider community.

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How will you incorporate humility into your coaching practice, and what positive changes do you hope to see as a result?

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Take a deeper dive into the concepts of humility and vulnerability in coaching by listening to a podcast I recorded at UK Coaching. “Exploring Vulnerability and Humility” with organisational psychologist, author, and podcaster Damian Hughes discusses insights, examples, and strategies of these behaviours in practice. You can listen to the podcast here: https://www.ukcoaching.org/resources/topics/podcasts/exploring-humility-vulnerability-with-damian and take a deep dive to read more here: https://www.ukcoaching.org/resources/topics/guides/subscription/making-sense-of-humility-and-vulnerability-in-coac