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.
Lessons 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.
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
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
