Many people think that being a good leader means being bossy and always in control. But the best leaders know how to stay humble. They don’t need to put on a show or be the center of attention. Instead, they focus on putting their team first and helping them succeed. Humble leaders are constantly learning and willing to admit when they’re wrong. They aren’t afraid to ask for help when they need it, and they give credit where it’s due. If you want to become the next-level leader, start by practicing humility. It will make you more likable and respected by your team members. And who knows, you might even be turned into a better “you.”

What Does it Mean to Be a Humble Leader

Unlike an authoritarian leader, a humble leader is modest and has an open mind. They know that they don’t have all the answers and that there’s always more work to do. They’re eager to learn from other people, especially those more intelligent than them. And rather than focusing on themselves, they put their team first and help everyone succeed together. Humble leaders don’t need to put on a show or be the center of attention because they know their role is to support others instead of drawing too much attention to themselves. That way, everyone can shine and develop as leaders.

Why Does Humility Make Someone a Better Leader

When we think about what we want in a boss or colleague, we often talk about values such as honesty, teamwork, and integrity. But if you’re looking to lead a team one day, the best quality you can have is humility. People want to follow someone willing to admit that they don’t know everything and who will listen what other team members have to share instead of trying to convince them they’re wrong or belittle their ideas. When your focus isn’t on being right all the time or showing how smart you are, it opens up the space for other people on your team to grow as leaders too. In turn, this boosts morale in the team and makes everyone more productive because they feel like their opinions matter instead of feeling left out.

What Does It Mean For a Leader Not to Put on a Show

Putting on a show means that your leadership is all about you. You’re trying to draw attention to yourself instead of focusing on others or making sure everyone feels included. It likely happen to leaders and get caught up in the idea of being right and proving other people are wrong because it makes them feel powerful, but it doesn’t make them good leaders. Acknowledging when you make mistakes or don’t have all the answers isn’t always comfortable, but humble leaders are willing to look foolish if it helps their team grow and be more successful together.

Not Humble and Bad Example Of Leadership and Negative Impact on The Team

One time your boss left you in charge of handling an important phone call while she stepped away from her desk. She doubted your ability to do the job because she jumped in and took over without checking to see what you were doing first. When she returned, she kept asking you questions about what had happened even though you told her that you have it under control. The result is, it may leave you to feel incompetent because she wouldn’t have known any better if she hadn’t taken control of the situation herself.

How Does Humility Affect How People Perceive Their Leader

People want to work for someone who will support them and help them grow as individuals. That’s why someone who puts on a show might come across as egotistical and cutthroat. They don’t make people feel good about themselves but instead make them doubt their ideas and abilities even though they’re on a team. If you want to be a leader that people trust and look up to, focus on helping your team succeed first. Make it clear that you’re grateful for everyone’s input and always open to new ideas no matter who suggests them. 

What Does a Humble Leader do Differently From Other Types of Leaders

A lot of things! Humble leaders are modest about their achievements and don’t need to spotlight themselves all the time. They admit when they aren’t sure what’s going on or if they’ve made a mistake so everyone can learn from them instead of being embarrassed if they don’t have the answer right away. They also focus on giving credit to others when it’s due and making sure everyone feels included, so no one person is in charge of everything or tries to take all the glory when a project goes well.

How does a Humble Leader Manage Their Team Differently From Other Leaders

Humble leaders are more likely to hire more intelligent people because everyone can share their knowledge and work together to come up with more substantial ideas. They don’t need to be the most intelligent person in the room and put on a show because they know their role is to make sure everyone has what they need and help them find ways to grow as individuals.

Compliments a Humble Leader Would Say…

“I don’t think I deserve all the credit for what we’ve done. We couldn’t have achieved this without my team.”

“Where did you come up with that idea? That’s so creative!”

“We all make mistakes sometimes, but it’s how we learn and grow together.”

Inspiring Humble Leadership Quotes

Be a better leader by thinking about how you can serve leading up.

Maya Angelou

The most outstanding leader is not necessarily the one who does the most remarkable things. He’s the one that gets people to do the greatest things.

Ronald Reagan

A leader isn’t someone who knows all but someone who cares enough to try and make other people better as a result of their presence. 

Author Unknown

Developing people should be a leadership priority because they are your most crucial resource for accomplishing any vision. 

Cheryl Bachelder

Leadership is not a magnetic personality- that can just as easily charm one as unhinging another. It is not “making friends and influencing people”- that is flattery. Leadership is lifting a person’s vision to high sights, raising a person’s performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its usual limitations.

Peter F Drucker

A leader is best when people barely know he exists. When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.

Lao-Tzu

A good leader inspires the best in those around him. a great leader inspires others even when they aren’t around.

Author unknown

The best leaders are not focused on their self-interest. They focus on the interests of others.

John Maxwell

A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame and a little less than his share of the credit.

John Maxwell

Positive Experience Working With a Humble Leader – EXAMPLE

Imagine you just got back from being out sick for a few days, so you are not sure what everyone else in the team had been up to while you were away. Your boss took some time to catch up when you came back and helped you get caught up with all the new projects the team is working on. She didn’t make it about her or brag about anything that happened when you were not there but instead focused on making sure you know what was going on. You will feel like she trusted your skills and abilities so much that she didn’t need to keep checking in to make sure you were doing okay. You will appreciate it that because it will make you feel good about the work you were doing and confident in your decisions while we were busy getting projects finished behind the scenes.

What Does Humility Look Like and How Does This Type of Leader Inspire Trust and Confidence in Their Team

Humility looks like someone who isn’t afraid to speak up even if they don’t know everything or aren’t always right but also doesn’t claim to be smarter than everyone else just for attention. It inspires trust and confidence because it shows that someone is willing to stay humble no matter who gives them credit for their achievements or whether everyone else wins awards instead of them. They’re willing to admit when they’ve made a mistake and are more concerned about finding the best way to fix something than putting on a show. They value their team’s ideas and work ethic, so they make sure everyone knows what they’re doing matters even if no one else knows how much is getting done in the background.

Opinions What Strategies Can You Use at Work to Help Others Recognize Your Accomplishments

I think it’s important not to be afraid to ask for help when I need it so people know they can count on me if they ever need something from me later. At work, I also do my best to put everything I’m doing on my work calendar, so everyone knows what I’m working on and when I’m busy. If it’s something that could help someone else do their job, then I’ll let them know about it because we’re all better off if we can share our ideas and work together instead of competing with each other.

Opinions On How do You React to This Feeling When You Don’t Feel Like You Deserve Credit For Your Contributions? What Has Helped You Get Past This?

I used to feel uncomfortable saying I did an excellent job at work even though I knew my boss would disagree with me. It felt like bragging, but she always told me she was proud of the effort that went into everything that got done in our department, no matter who came up with the ideas or who did the work. It helped to know that even though not everyone would think the same way about what it takes to get something done, she could see what I was trying to do and liked how much effort went into everything I did.

Some Final Words on Humble Leadership

I believe in treating people the way you’d want to be treated because it doesn’t matter what type of job or work you have or where you work. Everyone deserves respect to go home feeling like their time was well spent no matter how successful their day ended up being. I probably take that attitude too far sometimes and let my emotions get in the way of making good decisions about big projects, but I’m working on trying not to let that happen again. When I feel intimidated by someone else’s success or worry that my team might resent me for something I did wrong, it’s hard to stay focused on everything we’re doing instead of worrying about myself and how I’m doing compared to other people.