Are you a humble leader? Humble leaders regard the needs of others ahead of one’s own. They think of self less, not less of self. They are fulfilled by helping others achieve fulfillment. A leader with a humble approach lifts people’s spirits, self-esteem and confidence. I’ve been writing about this in recent posts. If you…
Many leaders still believe workplace humility is a detriment, not an advantage. Authority, power and even intimidation are best to run organizations and achieve results. Perhaps this is based on a misunderstanding of true humility: a desire to serve and dedication to bettering others. If you wonder about your own leadership, start by assessing your…
Before determining how best to reflect humility, it’s important to grasp what it is and what it looks like. Perhaps pastor, speaker and author Rick Warren expresses it best: Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. While strong leaders are stereotypically portrayed as egocentric, forceful, bold and self-serving, humility is…
Employee mindsets have shifted from previous generations, according to current data. They want much more than a paycheck and seek interpersonal connections with their leaders. They desire purpose, significance and the fulfillment associated with making a difference in the workplace. Employees want to contribute value and enjoy meaningful work. They need assurances that they’ll be…
Today’s leaders face innumerable challenges that previous generations never confronted: employee disengagement, cloud-based speed of commerce, political correctness, cultural diversity, social sensitivities and a hyper-focus on efficiency, among others. Humility, however, is an often-overlooked character trait that flies in the face of culturally accepted leadership norms. It may, in fact, be the most powerful attribute…
The traditional definition of vulnerability is to be capable of, or susceptible to being wounded or hurt; being open to moral attack, criticism, temptation, etc. Most people in business understand these definitions and avoid vulnerability at all costs. Nowhere does this have more impact than in leadership circles. However, recent research in leadership has exposed…
In previous posts I’ve been writing about the paradox of leadership give and take. The majority of employees see their bosses fitting the mold of the “takers”, putting their needs first and working their way up the corporate ladder effectively. Conversely, “givers”, who put their needs last, are seen as weak, interdependent, insecure, and not…
“Success doesn’t measure a human being, effort does.” ~ Adam M. Grant, Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success (Penguin 2013) I’ve been reading about the paradox of leadership give and take. “Givers” generally don’t strike people as those who will attain what corporate life considers success. They put the needs of others…
I’ve been reading, and writing, about the paradox of leadership give and take. The premise regarding those who try to claim as much value as they can is that they get what they want. Their intentions are to achieve goals and maximize their opportunity. These “takers” make things happen for themselves and those around them…
I’ve been exploring what it’s like to work for a leader with a big ego. Author Ryan Holiday, in his book, Ego Is the Enemy (Penguin, 2016) makes the case for several guiding principles leaders can use in overcoming their self-importance attitudes. Every leader who’s caught in the egotist condition will need help trusting and…