Confident humility. While some might believe these words to be dichotomous, Professor Adam Grant and the amazing minds over at Wharton have something to share: this personality trait is the secret to great leadership. In their latest nano-tool for leaders, confident humility is defined as being secure enough in your expertise and strengths to admit your ignorance and weaknesses. When one reflects on the most admired leaders throughout history, the two are often seen together. When leaders have one without the other, however, they falter. Confidence without humility leads to egotism and lack of forethought, while humility without confidence leads to doubt and failure.
Luckily, there are steps that leaders can take to ensure they embody these traits. First off, create a culture of learning as opposed to a culture of performance. Evidence shows that acknowledging one’s shortcomings creates more innovation and fewer mistakes. Second, give yourself the benefit if the doubt. Questioning methods and existing assumptions can lead to seeking new insights, thus broadening knowledge. And lastly, find one assumption to dive into and question deeply. Look for conflicting opinions or information, and truly ask if these assumptions can be wrong.
Apply these action steps to your self, and give your team some insight into what confident humility can look like in a leader. Check out the full article here and share it with those who might benefit.