In the office of the late Alex Haley, author of “Roots,” hung a picture of a turtle sitting on a fence post. It reminded Haley of a lesson he learned from his friend John Gaines, “If you see a turtle on top of a fence post, you know he had some help.”
Haley said: “Any time I start thinking, ‘Wow, isn’t this marvelous what I’ve done!’, I look at that picture and remember how this turtle – me – got up on that post.”
Humility is becoming a lost art. It doesn’t involve downplaying your achievements. It doesn’t mean that you won’t be recognized for your contributions. It does mean that you realize that others have been involved in your success, and you are prepared to be involved in theirs.
You start by giving credit where credit is due. The co-workers who participated in the early stages of a project surely deserve some recognition, and the folks who mopped the floors and kept the lights on are team players too.
Have you ever noticed the long list of credits at the end of a movie? They identify everyone from the stars to the caterers to the pyrotechnical wizards. The project couldn’t be completed without them.
As long as we’re talking about movies, let me tell you about the well-known celebrity who was vacationing in a small town in Maine. One rainy day he decided to go to a movie. When he entered the theater, there was a huge round of applause. The celebrity turned to the person next to him and said, “For gosh sakes, I never thought anyone here in Maine would recognize me.”
The man smiled in a friendly way and said, “They don’t. The only reason they’re cheering is that the owner said he wasn’t going to show us a movie unless 10 people showed up, and you’re the 10th.”
Humility in business is incredibly important, serving as a foundation for effective leadership and fostering a positive organizational culture. That’s why June is called Humility Month. Let’s break down why humility matters:
Builds trust and respect. Humble leaders are genuine and approachable, which builds trust among employees, clients and stakeholders. By acknowledging their own limitations and valuing others’ contributions, humble leaders earn respect and loyalty.
Encourages collaboration and innovation. Humility allows leaders to be open to new ideas and feedback, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation. When leaders recognize and appreciate the skills and input of their team members, it empowers employees to contribute more effectively.
Facilitates learning and growth. Humble individuals are willing to learn from their mistakes and seek personal and professional growth. Humility enables leaders to mentor others, sharing knowledge and fostering a learning environment.
Enhances decision-making. Humble leaders are more likely to consider diverse viewpoints, leading to well-rounded and informed decision-making. By putting the organization’s needs above personal ego, humble leaders make decisions that benefit the greater good.
Strengthens organizational culture. Humility contributes to a supportive and inclusive workplace culture, where employees feel valued and motivated. Organizations led by humble leaders are often more resilient, as they can adapt to change and navigate challenges with grace.
A great example is President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who used to have a little ritual with famous naturalist William Beebe. After an evening’s chat the two men would go outside and look into the night sky. Gazing at the stars they would find the lower left-hand corner of the big square of Pegasus. One of them would recite these words: “That is a spiral galaxy of Andromeda. It is as large as our Milky Way. It is one of a hundred million galaxies. It is 750,000 light years away. It consists of one hundred billion suns, each larger than our sun.”
They would then pause, and Roosevelt would finally say, “Now I think we feel small enough. Let us go to bed.”
I learned my lesson in humility from none other than my wife when I invited her to join me at a speaking engagement. I did all my usual homework and preparation, gave the speech, and was thrilled to receive a standing ovation from the audience.
Feeling rather smug in the car on the way home, I turned to her and asked, “Sweetheart, how many great speakers do you think there are in the world today?”
She smiled and said, “One fewer than you think, dear.”
Mackay’s Moral: Humility is like underwear. We should all have it but not let it show.
