I’ve been reflecting on my career in events, and how I want to improve my people management style. One thing I think I can improve is that of humility in leadership. I feel as though I already have some of these traits in my leadership style, but I think I can dive deeper and really embrace humility in leadership.
People who lead teams can fall into a trap of thinking we must have all the answers to all the questions a team may have, which can lead to micromanagement, slowing innovation within the team, and poisoning the team with a toxic mindset of not thinking for themselves. But by admitting our own limitations and valuing the contribution of others we can foster a more inclusive, collaborative environment that is agile and successful.
There are a few reasons why I think humility is such a valuable trait in leadership, such as fostering a growth mindset, promoting a culture of respect, and encouraging accountability.
When we foster a growth mindset, we push our teams to seek out innovative solutions to problems they may be facing, embrace a willingness to learn, and help our team to adapt to a rapidly changing environment. When we’re willing to admit we don’t know everything or have all the answers we are more open to innovative ideas, and fresh perspectives. This idea of a growth mindset has been one I’ve struggled with in the past, and on reflection, I see how it was a detriment to my team and how I could have done better. This mindset though is not one to just adopt overnight, you need to experience firsthand and understand the growth mindset is so important before you can really embrace it.
I believe strongly that when leaders are humble, they treat others with respect and dignity, they listen to their team members’ ideas and opinions and value their contributions. This creates a culture of mutual respect and trust, which is essential for building strong relationships and achieving common goals. When you have a growth mindset, coupled with treating people with respect and dignity, you build strength in your team, they perform better, and you will find that having that mutual respect and trust with your team brings about amazing results.
Having worked with some amazing teams who have done incredible feats, I have seen firsthand why it’s so important to be accountable for our mistakes and failures. I’m the first one to raise my hand and say, “I screwed up, and can you help me fix it?” Leaders don’t try to blame others or make excuses, by owning up to our own shortcomings, we create an environment where others feel comfortable admitting their own mistakes and taking responsibility for them. This promotion of accountability promotes an environment of continuous improvement, which is what we should want for our teams. To have an environment where they feel as though they can fail or make mistakes and learn from those failures and improve.
When you take those three items into account, you must ask yourself “how can I add humility to my leadership style?” First, you must admit when you don’t know something, don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know the answer”, if you are fearful of not knowing the answer say, “I don’t know the answer, but I will help you find it”. Not only will you look to better yourself by searching for the answer, but the next time someone asks you the same question you will have the answer. Second, actively listen to someone who is talking to you, give them your full attention, and try not to interrupt or dismiss their ideas. Instead look to understand their perspective and look for understanding in their point of view. Third, give credit where credit is due, when your team or people on your team achieve success, then acknowledge them! Last, take responsibility for your own mistakes, own up to it, apologize if necessary. This shows that you are committed to learning from your mistakes and bettering yourself as a leader.
My hope is that it will help create a more collaborative environment for my team and allow us to be more effective in our organization. I’ve committed to taking a step back and actively listen to my team and embrace a growth mindset.