Importance of Humility in Leadership

Have you ever heard the phrase “Drunk with Power?” This is a popular expression used to describe individuals who get carried away with a sense of entitlement, simply because they’ve gotten a taste of leadership. 

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It’s easy to assume that such arrogance only affects world leaders or infamous public figures, but the truth is, even everyday people are susceptible to being drunk with power. The reason why leaders often lose touch with reality is because leadership and power are intertwined. 

Since the average person has a natural instinct to associate power with privilege, anyone in a position of leadership can be easily tempted to either abuse the power that comes with leadership, or they can be tempted to exercise it in inappropriate ways.

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 Always Be Humble:

If you don’t want to be the type of leader who gets drunk with power, it’s important to stay grounded and remember your roots. This is where humility becomes essential to strong leadership. 

The humbler you are as a leader, the more equipped you become to bring the best out of your team. All leaders have a duty to respect and empower, those whom they lead. They have a responsibility to share knowledge in a way that makes others capable by establishing a legacy of proficiency. Here are a few tips on how to enhance your leadership through humility:

1) Keep an Open Mind

Selfishness is the quickest way to discourage other people, and it’s downright poisonous to the chemistry of a ! team. A good leader allows themselves to consider differing approaches or points of view. At the very least you should be willing to listen to others and objectively acknowledge the merits of their perspective.

2) Be a Mentor

If you want to have a lasting impact as a leader, you should let go of any hesitance which prevents you from empowering others. Sharing knowledge is one of humanity’s reasons for being. Every human ability can be enhanced through education and practice. So, the more you mentor, the more you reinforce the capabilities of your team.

3) Don’t Put Yourself on a Pedestal

Leaders are often so fixated on projecting an image of strength that they set the bar too high for themselves. Yes, it’s important to be admired as a leader, but if you try to be perfect, your reputation will end up standing as a house of cards. Remember that you’re only human, and make sure that your team understands this about you too. That way you can recover from mistakes and setbacks without putting everything on the line.

Conclusion:

These three traits naturally encourage leaders to search within themselves and figure out how to stay grounded amid the pressures of leadership. At the end of the day, the relationship between a leader and a team boils down to respect. Leaders who embrace humility, command the respect of their teams because humility is a sign of sober judgement. A good leader should learn to take enjoyment in empowering others. Rather than viewing mistakes as disasters, view them as an opportunity to learn and teach. Empowering! others doesn’t just help other people grow, it helps you grow in the process as well. For business development coaching by Richard Martinez, call at 626-202-2291 or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.