26/09/2022
Fifth Habit of Authenticity: Humility
A leader with humility achieves success. Most leaders believe that you should never show vulnerability. Contrary to popular belief, those who show their vulnerability are seen as more human and therefore more endearing and effective.
The leader is not self-centered; he is interested in the people he leads, the organization he represents, and the clients he serves. Once you realize this, you will develop humility (a relatively new concept in social and personal psychology, the opposite of pride, arrogance). Leaders with humility are more successful. They are not tormented by self-doubt, they do not increase, but do not reduce their value. They simply put other people first and hide their egos from those around them. As K.S. said Lewis: “Humility is not self-deprecation, it is a little less attention to oneself.”
True humility makes it easier and more effective to build relationships with people and achieve mutual understanding. When you don't bring high conceit to the forefront, you show that you consider other people more important than yourself. You don't waste time impressing people with your knowledge or skills or intelligence, let your deeds speak for themselves (called intellectual humility). You give more than you receive and always put others first. At the same time, altruism and selflessness do not at all mean spinelessness and reliability.
Charismatic leaders must stand firm on their point of view, but never forget that people have every right to hold a different opinion. Respecting their opinion is the meaning of humility. You are a leader and you have to make decisions. But how much do your decisions serve your personal benefit, or are they aimed at the benefit of the organization and your team members? People who have humility are more likely to admit their mistakes and are not afraid to take responsibility for them, because they understand that they are no different from others and are not immune from failure. It is important for employees that their leader be fair, which is why they value humility so highly. A leader who is unable to admit his mistakes, but at the same time criticizes others, does not deserve respect.
Charismatic leaders listen more than they speak.
Charismatic leaders with humility listen carefully to their employees and are interested in their needs because they do not consider themselves the smartest and most talented people in the world. They know that others are bound to come up with brilliant ideas if they are encouraged to speak up more often, so they always show people the respect they deserve. They respect other people's opinions and enthusiastically defend good ideas, no matter who their author is.
Paradoxically, many leaders do not like to show their vulnerability or show their weaknesses, while most employees love it when they do. Vulnerability is attractive because it shows that these leaders, like all people, are afraid of failure and humiliation, but still take responsibility and act. Such courage wins people's hearts.
