In the past three installments of Leadership Notes I touched on a discussion with a friend who had sifted through the various qualities of Leadership and arrived at the personal conclusion that there are two qualities that matter the most for those who lead others: Passion and Commitment.
Last week we published feedback from a reader and friend who advocated humility as a third essential quality. That feedback sparked even more response as follows (anonymous):
…I have worked for a company over my lifetime where it was all about the owner, in all avenues. She was not humble, had a different and personal passion and commitment. She just wanted to get to the top, be the best at everything… however, in her career she has burned many people and has made it very hard to re-associate and get her name out there again. Even when working for her, it was a push for us to try to build her company… but at the same time, while we were working hard to build her company, she never recognized how important we were to her, never gave us the kudos, or showed appreciation. Instead she just took it from us in every way possible.
In my career over the years, I have also worked for companies that show Humility…companies that have a humble feeling about the owners/bosses/managers and people that work for the company. The owners show appreciation, gratitude, and have some form of reward for their employees. It doesn’t always have to be in the form of money, but just knowing that you work for a company that appreciates its employees is a different feeling. It’s a humble feeling. This makes a huge difference in being that Leader and wanting to be that Leader - even if you are a humble person to begin with.
Being a Leader does not always have to be at the top of everything (owner/boss/manager) but just being a leader among your peers and with your boards. If you work for that company that doesn’t offer Humility, why do you want to push yourself for that company? Most people don't want to…even if that is the type of person you are [i.e. a hard worker].
There is a lot of "hay on the fork" contained in the above feedback - definitely plenty to ponder. It leads me to ask myself a number of questions:
- Why do I lead - what is my motivation?
- Am I seeking to promote my agenda or am I leading to promote the company's mission in partnership with my team?
- What do I do to affirm my team?
- How can I recognize those who exhibit dedication and commitment to the mission?
- Do I serve those I lead as we together serve the mission - or do they serve me?
- How can I grow in leading with humility?
Hopefully this reflection will allow each of us to pause and take the next step in growing as leaders - leaders who are committed to the highest and best for the mission assigned to us at any given time (as contrasted to self-promotion).
Maybe it's just not all that complicated. As Ken Blanchard has said and we quoted last week, “Humility does not mean you think less of yourself. It means you think of yourself less.”
Your thoughts?