Humility in Leadership
When you think about the qualities of a strong leader the first words that come to mind might include charismatic, confident, or courageous, but have you considered humility as a valuable trait for a leader?
As a leader, one of your most important roles is building relationships with your employees, customers, clients and stakeholders. Think about people that you feel drawn to or safe confiding in; likely they are approachable, kind and empathetic. When you embody humility as a leader you are concerned about and demonstrate a deep regard for the dignity of others. This is an essential component in creating healthy relationships which then lead to support and results.
Reflect on how your employees see you and what they need from you. Are you someone with integrity and a balanced ego? Do you communicate a clear and compelling vision and ethical strategies to get there? Do you treat your employees, customers and suppliers fairly and with respect? Do you equip and support your staff in the ways they need to do their job well? Do you ask them what they desire in terms of autonomy and advancement? Do you believe that your workers are your organization’s most valuable asset?
Showing deference for others can be cultivated by intentionally looking for ways to notice and affirm those around you. In his book, Thank You. I’m Sorry. Tell Me More., Rod Wilson explains the value of the phrases contained in the title saying, “Gratitude, remorse, and care are three ways we can acknowledge the other. When we express gratitude to others, communicating that they have influenced us positively, we value them. When we show remorse to others, conveying that we have affected them negatively, we cherish them. When we communicate care to others, letting them know we want to hear their story, we respect their dignity.”
By definition, leadership comes with weighty responsibilities and expectations. You might feel you have a lot of pressure to get results and make an impact. However, there is a difference between making an impact and trying to make an impact; one is authentic and the other is performance. You can set the tone with your attitude, you can lead from the front, you can set goals and have expectations, you can do your best with your time, talents and resources, but acknowledge and accept that you can't control outcomes.
By focusing on humility as a leader, being honest about your limitations of resources or capacity, and showing genuine care and respect for others, you can build trust and transparency on your team. When you have strong, positive relationships in the workplace you provide inspiration, not just direction; enlist commitment, not just compliance; obtain accountability, not just obligation. Be the leader you would want and treat others the way you would want to be treated.