Humility: A 10X Advantage
Unconventional Thinking
People often connect humility with under-appreciation. The adjective humble suggests a lesser thing or person. What does it mean to you? To inspirational leaders, humility is a fearless and accurate knowledge of self. The humble leader is self-aware and certain they don’t know all the answers. This is a competitive advantage. This creates an incentive and an imperative for others to contribute. The humble leader counts on everyone to pull their weight.
Humility at the Top
Consultant to the Stars Deepak Chopra refreshed his sense of humility by shaving his head, donning robes, and becoming a Buddhist monk. He wandered from village to village, relying kind strangers to feed him. He was not Oprah’s coach or a guest at the Four Seasons. He was just another monk, carrying his bowl, walking the dusty road.
In the Looking Glass
Where else do we find humble leaders? Jim Collin’s researchers interviewed every single Level 5 leader of Good to Great companies. They described them as “quiet, humble, modest, reserved, shy, gracious, mild-mannered, self-effacing, and understated…” [1] Collins noted that when things went wrong for a Level 5 leader, their first instinct was to look in the mirror, seeking to understand their part in it.
Dealing with Complexity
The Good to Great research is more than 10 years old. Recently Collins and Hansen address our more complex and faster moving world in their Great by Choice research. Their finding is that humility is a critical trait. They call the leaders who build Great by Choice companies, 10xers. These leaders accept their limitations, their inability to control “significant aspects of the world around them…but accept full responsibility for their own fate.” [2]
Have you seen “humility” listed as a leadership competence? Based on the research, that might be a sign of a great place to work. It certainly makes for better leaders.
Humility Counteracts Bias
We all deal with different types of bias every day. Leaders are typically prone to some that easily block produce bad decisions. Here are a few:
- Wisdom bias; we think we more than we do. Maybe we do. On the other hand, unless you are a uniquely talented expert in your field, there are lots of people who know as much or more. Humble leaders are open to learning and innovation.
- Confirmation bias; we tend to embrace the facts that support our position twice or three times as often as we study facts that oppose it. Energetically seek opposing facts. Be open. Inspirational leaders make informed decisions.
- Assumption bias: others may not know what we think is important. Humble leaders communicate.
Put it to Work
Humble leaders tend to be inspirational because they bring out the best in others. This is because the inspirational leader is at peace with who they are. They have let go of the need to be the smartest one in the room. In this way they make room for others to contribute. Think back to the last time you felt good at work. Chances you felt that way because you made progress: you contributed.
