I had someone tell me I was a “humble man” the other day. After I choked, I responded that I sure didn’t feel that way about myself. Then they said, “that’s what I mean.” I thanked them for the compliment.
“Humble” is not something that many people immediately say about the leaders they know and usually, it’s the opposite end of the definitive spectrum that is used to describe leaders of organizations. In fact, there are some who might say that confidence, which they inaccurately define as the lack of humility, is the way to be a great leader, particularly in secular organizations. Unfortunately, even in faith-based and charitable organizations, it is easy for leaders to fall into the cavern of ego and self-focus. Not all leaders do, but it is something to which all must pay attention in order to be the kind of leader that can humbly lead their people.
A few years back I found a book that changed my leadership life. I’ve mentioned it before in this blog, but it is so good, I must do so again. It is Humble Leadership by Graham Standish (2007), and I think it should be a required text for every ministerial student who has their sights on leading a church ministry. In the book, Standish states, “When we lead from a sense of humility, willingly putting aside our own motivations and desires in favor of God’s call, we create the context in which people are more willing to put aside their own will to seek God’s will” (p.4).” He also states, “Humility is the willingness to become God-and-other-focused rather than being narcissistically self-focused. It means becoming a servant to God and others.”
Those are great words to remember for those of us who desire to be a servant-leader in whatever type of organization we lead. Can you imagine the good that can be done and the progress that can be made in this world if people, especially leaders, could put their own “motivations and desires” aside for the good of all? That’s what I want. Sure, I have all kinds of personal motivations and desires, but at the end of the day, I want to see the more important things in life advance. I want the people I lead to be better off because I made their needs a priority. I hope that is the type of leader you want to follow, and to become as well.
Lead well.