Many of us have worked with or for that type of leader – the one who pushes profits at the expense of people, takes credit for the good while shielding themselves from the bad, and undermines those around them for the purpose of attaining more power. Working with an ego-driven leader wreaks havoc on teams and organizations.
That leadership style deviates in every way from the model of leadership Jesus gave us during His ministry. As His followers, we are called to something far greater. We are called to lead with humility.
What is true of humble leaders?
Their humility is representative of their strength.
While it’s easy to misrepresent these two traits as opposites, humility and strength are a powerful duo. Humble leaders can be competitive, determined, and visionary. They understand their responsibility to lead the business to success, but do so by valuing their employees, soliciting input, and acknowledging their own shortcomings.
John J. McCloy, an advisor to numerous United States presidents, once said, "Humility leads to strength and not to weakness. It is the highest form of self-respect to admit mistakes and to make amends for them."
2. They approach oppositional forces with grace.
Rather than isolate and humiliate those who hold contrary opinions, humble leaders will thoughtfully engage with individuals who disagree with them to seek understanding of their concerns, look at different perspectives, and build consensus.
3. They understand the importance of a healthy company culture.
Humility breeds humility. The example set by humble leaders is emulated among management and permeates the culture of entire organizations. Suddenly, employees feel acknowledged, empowered, and equipped to do their best work.
Paul gives us a recipe for healthy leadership in Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Inc.com reports, “The Journal of Management highlighted just how far-reaching the effects of humble leadership can be. The study concluded that leaders who were humble were far more likely to delegate and innovate. As a result, company performance and employee satisfaction improved, while turnover fell.” (Source)
4. They have boundaries and expectations.
This is critical for success in both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Leaders must set expectations for employee performance and behavior and engage critically but kindly around those expectations.
To have humility is to believe you are no more important than someone else. It does not mean leaders should shirk in the face of conflict and give up their conviction or responsibility to uphold the success of their broader organization.
Christian leaders are called to be forces for good in their workplaces, impacting lives by following the instructions given in Colossians 3: To clothe themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (Col 3:12).
If you’re interested in engaging with like-minded leaders who are also committed to making a kingdom impact in their professional lives, consider joining a Convene Team where you can enhance your leadership skills while growing in your understanding of biblical leadership.