Humility

http://www.myspeedoftrust.com

Down below is some excerpts from The Speed of Trust by Stephen M. R. Covey.  In the book he speaks about the 4 Cores of Credibility: Integrity, Intent, Capabilities, and Results.  He defines integrity as being honest, having the courage to live your values and beliefs and also includes being humble. 

•  A humble person is more concerned about what is right than about being right,  about acting on good ideas than having the ideas, about embracing new truth than defending outdated position, about building the team than exalting self, about recognizing contribution than being recognized for make it.

• Being humble does not mean being weak, reticent, or self-effacing.  It means recognizing principle and putting it ahead of self. It means standing firmly for principle, even in the face of opposition.

• Humble people also realize clearly they they do not stand alone, but rather on the shoulders of those who have gone before, and that they move upward only with the help of others.

• The opposite of humility is arrogance and pride.  It's putting ego first--above principles, above others.

Another great source I found on humility is from Dan Rockwell's Leadership Freak blog post. You can find his blog post at http://leadershipfreak.wordpress.com/2012/09/30/the-8-strengths-of-humility/

Humble leaders are stronger than arrogant leaders.

Humble strength vs. arrogant weakness:

1. Humility learns; arrogance knows.
2. Humble leaders submit to noble values; they won’t bend. Arrogant leaders bend rules to their advantage.
3. Humility listens; arrogance talks.
4. Humble leaders serve others; arrogant leaders serve themselves.
5. Humble leaders are free to build up others. Arrogant leaders build up themselves.
6. Humility opens hearts; arrogance builds walls.
7. Humility joins; arrogance stands aloof.
8. Humble leaders connect; arrogant leaders disconnect.

Humility enables leaders to ask, “How can I help?”

C.S. Lewis said: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.”

Necessity:

Leadership skills are important for leadership success but humility is necessary. I’ll take a less skilled humble leader over a more skilled arrogant leader every time. Arrogant leaders might succeed but they’ll never be successful. Can you think of any leadership skill that isn’t more beautiful with humility?

The Path:

Leadership is first about character then about skills. Spend more time developing the practice of humility and less time working on leadership skills.

You can’t talk your way into humility; it’s always practiced.