How do you know it is Humility?
How do I determine or know I see humility?
The journey to humility and the awareness of it starts in the mirror. Humbleness is not easy for anyone. It is the basis of building self-awareness. Humility needs to be a value of the group, and each person in it or it does not show up in interactions.
Humility shows up in three main areas:
- Language/Communications – What word do we use? Do we use “we” or “I” in most conversations? Are we good empathetic and active listeners? Do we act on what we hear?
- Actions – Do we need to out front, to be heard, to be acknowledged. Can we push someone else out front without diminishing ourselves? Do we act without expectation of a return or gaining attention for it? Can we celebrate someone else’s success as much as our own?
- Purpose – How do we express our purpose in life or our organization? Are we focused on serving others? What is our intention for what we do on a daily basis?
As a leader, I must model and be accountable for what I wish to see in the team. I see it as my responsibility to help each team member move toward the person they want to be. When I am focused on their needs, I am not focused on my own. In my experience, people know that you are authentically humble and will react accordingly. As for me as a leader, it is about them and not about me.