HUMILITY WORKS: Are you making it work for you?

Sixteen times. That's how many times the word 'humility' can be found in the leadership classic, 'The Leadership Challenge' by James Kouzes and Barry Posner. Kim Scott, COO of Apple and Google at different times in her career referenced the word just as many times in 'Radical Candor'. Cheryl Bachelder is the CEO of Popeye's Chicken. She referenced humility 41 times in her book, 'Dare to Serve'. Bob Burg referenced the word six times in his short 95 page leadership parable, 'The Go Giver', and the great John Maxwell cited it 6 times in his law of personal growth inside of '15 Invaluable Laws of Growth'. If you want to really get historical, the Bible tells us multiple times that 'God gives grace to the humble' (I Peter 5:5-6, James 4:16-17).

In all of my leadership, growth, and influence readings 'humility' is a word that thematically pops up all over the place. I can't really think of a challenge I've faced leading or influencing people where humility was the wrong choice on my part. The reverse is certainly true where I've made lots of mistakes when my pride and ego were the driving force. Over the years, I've come to use this simple statement often to remind me of the value of holding a humble perspective. 'Humility works'. It just does. Name the challenge or conflict and I'm almost certain that humility will be part of the solution.

Here's a couple ways to check to see if you are making humility work for you...

REGULAR EXPRESSIONS OF GRATITUDE: Do you have a theme of gratitude in your life? Are you expressing it to others? Gratitude and humility are symbiotic. Gratitude and pride do not coexist with each other. 

RESPONSIVE TO NEEDS OF OTHERS: When you are presented with an opportunity to assist someone in need, do you spring into action? Even if it causes personal inconvenience?

EXPECTATION OF CREDIT: Do you have an expectation of being credited for your work? Does the absence of a social media shoutout, thank you note, award, or applause make you a little salty? 

GIVE CREDIT TO OTHERS EASILY: When you are part of a successful effort, do you spend more time thinking about how you contributed or giving credit to others for their efforts? 

DO YOU FOLLOW AS WELL AS YOU WANT TO LEAD? Many of us have great ambition to have influence and lead. It is healthy and important for our growth. However, how well we follow is a better indicator of our readiness to lead others. 

Finally, if any of these thoughts made you sneer or roll your eyes you may not be making humility work for you. Humility always says, 'let me think about that' before coming to a hasty conclusion. 

Is humility working for you?


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‘Bite Down and Don’t Let Go’ is a collection of writings on being intentional about life in a way that produces great persistence. Read about it more here.

Dr. Chris Hobbs is an educational leader and Director of Athletics at The King’s Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida. He’s earned a few degrees and won some awards. He’s happily married to his high school sweetheart and they have three teen age children. Life is messy and complicated most of the time. You can follow him on Twitter for all sorts of inspirational thoughts and good laughs.