Humble leaders, leaders of the future

he word “humility” comes from the Latin humilitas, which is derived humus, meaning “earth”. 

We could say that to be humble is to be “attached to the earth”, attentive to reality, without indulging in arrogance or overconfidence. 

An element that provides, therefore, a bonus in the shape of practical wisdom and common sense, over and above whatever experience or know-how each person may have. 

An increasingly necessary skill in today’s digital world, where “cheap posing” abounds and the temptation to be arrogant is always lurking when success and recognition accumulate. 

I have been lucky enough to meet humble leaders in a wide range of spheres (business, social, educational, family, etc.). Different lives, personalities and origins, but always a common denominator: the marvellous multiplying effect that their humility had on their leadership. 

Some years ago, Zenger and Folkman conducted one of the most powerful works of research on leadership worldwide. Working with a sample based on thousands of responses, they showed how extraordinary leaders multiplied their companies’ profits and sales and their employees’ commitment. 

Their “extraordinary leaders” model features five elements: performance orientation, interpersonal skills, organisational change management, personal capabilities and character as the base and centre of the model. 

They define humility as one of the cornerstones of “character”, together with other fundamental attributes such as cordiality, resilience, honesty, self-knowledge and self-development, trust in others and teamwork, or courage to make tough decisions. 

In Lead with Humility, Jeffrey Krames sums up the leadership style of Pope Francis. He pinpoints humility as a core component of the Pope’s lifestyle: “If we can develop a truly humble attitude, we can change the world.” 

Benefits of humility in leadership 

Paradoxically there are plenty of studies warning us of the dangers of arrogance in leaders, yet the attribute of humility seldom appears in leadership development programmes. 

This may be owing to the idea that modesty will be a hindrance for the leader. Or maybe it is thought that, rather like character, it’s something that cannot be taught or learnt. 

I disagree with this perspective. I think that, like everything in life, it can be developed beyond innate abilities. It is possible to increase one’s “humility coefficient” through self-knowledge, help, training, feedback and determination. 

Given that today’s successes are no guarantee of tomorrow’s survival, the multiple benefits of humility are all the more obvious: 

• It helps us to know the current limit of our strengths and capabilities by cultivating a realistic analysis of our company and its competitors. 
• It nurtures an open mind and permanent willingness to seek advice, innovate and explore good practice. 
• It fosters a sensation of healthy dissatisfaction and the pursuit of ongoing improvement. 
• It is a stimulus and a spur to excel, as it makes us more aware of what has already been achieved and the opportunities and risks that lie in the future.  

“Humility is the basis and foundation of all virtues, and without it there’s no virtue worthy of the name,” wrote Miguel de Cervantes in The Dialogue of the Dogs. 

We need humble leaders to face the future.