Humility in Leadership
- Andy Robinson
- Apr 1
- 2 min read
I've had the pleasure of mentoring a Business School student, Kate Merryweather, who is attending the University of Georgia (my undergraduate alma mater). She enjoys learning about leadership and has written the following insightful article. Please welcome Kate to the CRG family!
“Humility doesn’t mean doubting your own abilities;
it means recognizing that there are always things to learn from others
and that no matter how much you know, you can’t know everything.”
~ Adam Grant (Think Again, 2021)
As a CEO, humility is one of the most powerful traits you can cultivate. While confidence is undoubtedly important for leadership, overconfidence can undermine both your effectiveness and the long-term success of your organization. It’s essential to find the right balance between
confident decisiveness and openness.
We all suffer from desirability bias, where we see what we want to see, but we also have blind spots — areas where we are unaware of our own limitations. Strong leaders actively engage with critics to identify these blind spots and improve their decision-making.
In his 2021 book Think Again, psychologist and professor Adam Grant writes, "Arrogance is ignorance plus conviction," highlighting the danger of overconfidence, where when we become too sure of ourselves, we stop listening and learning. Humility opens the door to collaboration and encourages the exploration of new and creative solutions. It fosters an environment where team members feel heard, which not only boosts team morale but also increases business performance by building trust and respect.
Humility also sets a positive example for your team, demonstrating that leadership isn’t about being infallible but about being open, thoughtful, and adaptable. This can strengthen the organization's culture and align everyone toward a shared vision.
On the other hand, the trap of overconfidence can lead to a failure to adapt and a cycle of repeated mistakes. A CEO risks narrowing their perspective by blocking out others' voices, stifling innovation and growth in an ever-changing business world.
“A mark of lifelong learners is recognizing that one
can learn something from everyone they meet.”
~Adam Grant (Think Again, 2021)
It’s crucial for leaders to think of themselves as lifelong learners, continuously learning and adapting from the ideas and experiences of others. This mindset allows you to step back, rethink your views, and better understand how your decisions are shaped. This leads to more thorough, unbiased decisions that ultimately benefit the organization.
Ask yourself:
What am I missing? Who am I not listening to? Am I open to being wrong? How can I learn and grow?
Always remember:
Humility isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of strength, growth, and true leadership.
Author: Kate Merryweather
Andy Robinson, Executive Coach
239-285-5575
"Helping CEO's and executives maximize their influence and impact."
Welcome Kate! Thank you for succinctly and yet impactfully sharing the insights of what humility is, what it isn't, the importance of cultivating it, and cautions about developing it in a healthy way.
I found this statement very insightful: "Humility also sets a positive example for your team, demonstrating that leadership isn’t about being infallible but about being open, thoughtful, and adaptable. This can strengthen the organization's culture and align everyone toward a shared vision."