Humility

November 16, 2009

In the November 9^th 2009 issue of Time Magazine, Nancy Gibbs in her essay entitled the A Case for Modesty in an Age of Arrogance  makes a good case for the value of humility. She believes that the immodesty of those who “claimed to Know it All have Wiped Us Out.”

We can safely assert that the absence of humility or arrogance played a significant role in the recent collapse of major financial institutions.

Humility has not been a highly-priced value in corporate America. It is often seen as a sign of weakness.

We should take a second look at humility. 

Below are a few of it its attributes: 

• Humility is in fact a realistic attitude.

We know we are never truly the best. We know we are not always right and that we make mistakes. People around us know it too, yet we try to pretend otherwise. 

• Humility should not be confused with low self-esteem.

Rabbi Abraham Twerski, a professor of psychiatry and author, says that being humble means having an accurate sense of self and that is crucial to a healthy self-esteem. 

• Humility also allows us to have an open mind.

It allows us to respect and value the ideas of others as opposed to “blind” arrogance, which only allow us to see ourselves. 

• Humility allows us to laugh at ourselves.

It is an excellent indicator of good mental health. People that think too highly of themselves rarely have a good sense of humor.  Someone said that a “big shot” is only a “small shot” long away from home!  

• Humility is a great asset in leadership.

Gandhi, who led India to independence and Nelson Mandela who led South Africa out of Apartheid were known for their humility.  It is said that Moses, one of the greatest leaders of all times, was “the most humble man on the face of the Earth.” 

• Humility does not negate strong will power.

In his book “Good to Great” Jim Collins makes the point that companies that have outperformed their competitors were often led by individuals that had both strong personal humility and intense perseverance to reach their goals.

Jonathan Sacks, the Chief Rabbi of the U.K. once wrote:

“Humility — true humility — is one of the most expansive and life-enhancing of all virtues. It does not mean undervaluing yourself. It means valuing other people. It signals a certain openness to life’s grandeur and the willingness to be surprised, uplifted, by goodness wherever one finds it.”

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