11 Benefits of Humility in Leadership

What is one benefit of having humility in leadership?

To help you find humility in your leadership, we asked business leaders and entrepreneurs this question for their best leadership tips. From creating solid company culture to embracing authenticity, there are several benefits of having humility in leadership.

 Here are some benefits of having humility in leadership:

●     Building Foundations for Connection

●     Take the Blame, Give the Credit

●     Creating Company Culture

●     Staying Grounded in the Highs and Lows

●     Nurturing the Strength in Your Team

●     Learning from Your Mistakes

●     Innovating Through Humility

●     Seeking Feedback & Insight

●     Embracing Authenticity

●     Leading Through Mentorship

●     Sparking Collaboration with Humility

Building Foundations for Connection

Humility feeds authenticity and a desire to learn, be present, and engage with others. Humility can create the ultimate connections and build relationships. Those foundations can serve everyone well.

-Kim Allchurch-Flick, Mighty Epiphyte

Take the Blame, Give the Credit

Early on in my leadership journey, I learned a powerful lesson on taking the blame and giving away the credit. Leaders who are able to do this effectively build a team of ownership, allowing others to learn from their mistakes. One question I ask myself, “What could I have done better/differently in that situation?” By not pointing the finger at others, a supportive and trusting culture can be built.

-Jenn Christie, Markitors

Creating Company Culture

Humility in leadership sets the tone of the organization. None of us are perfect, and we all need each other to lift us individually and as a team. Ultimately, humility paves the way for a supportive transparent culture.

-Mathew Smith, Tribe Pilot

Staying Grounded in the Highs and Lows

When iFax released the first online fax app in the App Store, we rocketed to the 8th most downloaded app. Apple invited us to make a few product tweaks and participate in one of their most famous TV commercials. Then, lessons in humility happened. Our servers crashed because of the influx of app downloads and usage. We sadly didn’t end up making the cut for Apple’s TV commercial. The point is to never get too high or too low in leadership. Stay humble and grounded no matter what’s going on around you.

-Adam Korbl, iFax

Nurturing the Strength in Your Team

Having humility in leadership allows you to recognize the value in others. Rather than fear their strengths, you celebrate them. Rather than holding them back, you push them forward. Humility allows others to grow into themselves, which ultimately strengthens the entire organization.

-Deborah Murad, DG©M

Learning from Your Mistakes

Humility allows you to understand what your employees are experiencing. It helps you stay true to your goals without distancing yourself from your team members. Humility allows you to see your mistakes so that they can become a way to learn.

-Jennifer Leonard, Planet to People

Innovating Through Humility

Being humble means knowing you don't have all the answers in your organization. The benefits of this are numerous. Admitting you don't have all the answers invites the rest of the team to a collaborative process of trying to solve problems for the organization. Additionally, you're more likely to get innovations to arise from other members of the team. Having humility also lends someone to bring in diverse perspectives different from your own. This will reap the benefits of a more inclusive environment.

-Jen Coyne, The PEAK Fleet

Seeking Feedback & Insight

Humility shows your team that you're aware of your own vulnerabilities, and you may be open to feedback and change. We tend to stay silent about new ideas or even crucially important feedback with people that don't show a sense of self-awareness. A good leader should look for regular opportunities to improve structures, gain new insights from peers, and build up the business. As the world continues to adapt and change, so too must we. Those who insist on conservative ideologies and maintaining their own ego are doomed to fail.

-Erik Croswell, Bridge City Media

Embracing Authenticity

One benefit of having humility in leadership is authenticity. No matter the size of your firm, creating a culture of authenticity is critical to your success. Your success as a leader is to instill or seek out these same qualities in your team. This gives your team the power to explore ideas, create new lines of business or ways to improve the community. Humility is your truth. Your truth as a person, as a leader, and how your business is perceived in the community.

Lisa Faust, Pacific West Bank

Leading Through Mentorship

The benefit of having humility in leadership is that it makes that leader easy to access. Therefore, easier to follow. Today, people want leaders that they can relate to on a personal level. These leaders can connect with and easily shape those that follow them. People want leaders to be more like mentors, and humility helps get to that end.

-Sarah Vito, Yellow Emperor

Sparking Collaboration with Humility

The benefits of being a humble leader are that you are approachable, accountable, and human. Humble leaders are not afraid of being themselves. They admit they don't know everything. They are willing and learn. Humble leaders want to listen. Collaboration is at the center of a humble leader.

-Silvina Skverer, Thinking Beyond Business

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