1. Humility gives a leader the capacity to lead out of a position of strength.
When you choose to be humble, you are choosing not to think less of yourself, but to think of yourself less and others more.
2. Humility makes a leader more persuasive.
A leader’s most powerful tools is his ability to cast a vision to his followers, and to persuade them to unite to make that vision a reality. Humility engenders trust, loyalty, buy-in, and enthusiasm far better and more purely than fear, manipulation, or even people-pleasing will ever do.
3. Humility gives a leader the courage to set aside personal gain for the good of others.
A humble person sees others as inherently valuable while prideful leaders focused on themselves.
4. Humility gives a leader the candor to be honest with their followers and change course if necessary.
A humble person separates himself or herself from their accomplishments. When their accomplishments receive criticism, they don’t take it personally, but constructively. Prideful leaders, on the other hand, lash out due to fear, anger, or self-entitlement.
5. Humility gives a leader the character to respond charitably when attacked.
Because a humble leader doesn’t derive his or her identity from their accomplishments, they are able to deal with criticism. The humble leader simply owns the truth of the criticism—if there is any—and discards the rest.
