The Role of Humility at Work

    There are many qualities that leaders must develop if they wish to have a meaningful impact in the workplace. But among these many important qualities, the value of humility seems to be frequently overlooked. Part of this is due to common misconceptions about what it means to be humble.

    Humility tends to be overlooked in the workplace because it is frequently misinterpreted as a "weak" quality. We have been led to believe that people who are humble are easily bulldozed (欺负) by others and aren't willing to stick up for themselves. Many define humility as having a low opinion of oneself. While this may be one widely accepted view of humility today, it is actually a far cry from the true meaning of the word—and the way it should be applied in leadership. Humility isn't about being passive and weak. It's about showing respect to others and recognizing truth in all situations, including in the workplace.

    A humble professional sounds like the type of person that most of us would prefer to interact with on a daily basis. It is the type of person that can become a truly effective leader. "Humble leaders must be willing to evaluate criticism to determine if it's valid or not," said Christopher Ferry, founder of Boca Recovery Center. "The best leaders are willing to admit when they are wrong and view mistakes as learning opportunities so they can turn them into something transformative. In all my work developing the leadership skills of managers, if I could give them any quality with a magic stick, it would be humility."

    Though humility is often underrated by world at large, it's essential if you want to be successful as a leader, not just at work but in life. Reject your idea to boast or lift yourself above anyone and decide to be at the service of others.