Welcome back! If you enjoyed the flowery, lilted prose of the first edition, then great! It is not happening again, because this edition will be.. less Woolf and more Vonnegut in style and tone. I am going to keep it simple, grounded and plain on this go around, which is, in fact, an apt segue into today's theme or word of the day: humility.
As a preacher and peddler of intangibles in every facet of life, this one is the most difficult one to approach. This one is the most difficult one to embrace. Above all, it is the one that is hardest to maintain, as it is impossible to master. It simply remains an ever-evolving, perpetual challenge for every one of us, because humility is just hard by default. In many ways, it goes against the modern human nature, western ideals of individualism, and, in my view-- the human condition itself. Nevertheless, it is beyond rudimentary importance. It is one of the key foundational pillars of great leadership and stewardship.
Not convinced?
Look around for a split second. Open your social media. Turn on your TV.
The common theme is the emphasis on “me” and often times, that emphasis will come at the expense of those around you for no other reason than unfettered narcissism and a lack of thought or logic. The end goal is just chasing feel-good highs, no matter how it comes about. It is a vapid pursuit of fickle momentary impulse and aesthetics, rather than substance, purpose, and meaning. (More on this on another post.)
To paraphrase Søren Kierkegaard, people often exercise the freedom of speech in lieu and absence of the freedom of thought. In the bullring of theatrical posturing, self-service, and signalling, ego is king. Virtue; the enemy. A world comprised of “look-at-me” is blind to sight at large. Sight is freedom, sight is perspective, sight is safety, and it is confidence. Sight is the first guiding light we use and feel. A world without sight is imprisoned, trapped, and stymied. It is consigned and resigned to limbo, designed to go nowhere and fall into the first abyss it comes across, furthering its abysmal state. In many cases, the clamouring for attention is an exhibition of being devoid and bereft of inner resolve. The internal is the font of all things. If the internal is empty, the external becomes a façade. A façade is a lie and illusion, and therefore, the antithesis of truth. Truth is freedom and strength, and freedom is happiness because it belies clarity. If one is blind, one cannot fathom beyond darkness. Peer into the interstices, beyond the material, and you'll see light and art. Truth and reconciliation.
A short poem by yours truly:
Sight beyond sight,
Regal standing,
Radiant ethics,
Right beyond right,
Resplendent virtue.
Light beyond light.
In leadership, the first in understanding the psychological nature and chief dynamics of power is key, thereby positioning themselves accordingly and advantageously. The relationship between power and person is complex, ever-shifting; mired with false friends-- but principally, and conceptually, simple.
Know this: Power corrupts absolutely.
Be weary of the person who covets it. The coveting of power is the festering manifestation of arrogance. Arrogance is the millstone of the fall and the sword that fells. It is an evil that takes all collateral while shackling others, dragging all to failure. An organisation with emboldened arrogance, not confidence-- which is different, is afflicted with a malignant disorder that will ultimately and imminently doom, in a slow degradation that turns into an eventual rapid, necrotic disintegration. Those who covet power only see themselves. They only regard their own standing rather than the accomplishments of the organisation, the well-being and success of those in it. The mission becomes secondary. Power needs to be treated radioactively. Aware of the pitfalls and dangers, respecting its potency, and weary of exposure to it. It needs to be wielded with caution, responsibility, a certain firmness and a likewise general overall sensitivity to it. Understand this-- and you are ready to lead.
What of humility itself?
Humility is the great power itself because there is immense, unmovable power in restraint, balance, and tranquillity. Moderation in a world of excess is an aegis and bulwark against the overwhelming discord and disorienting noise. It is the compass of fortuitous character, of which guides one-- and all-- towards safe harbour. Moderation, which begets and is begot by humility, acts as a counterweight, and it conducts itself as a harmonising entity in times that are marked by entropy. Humility is clarity, bravery, courageousness, virtue, and is a lens of how to see past the fog. Humility is the mother virtue.
It is both the unstoppable object and the immoveable force.
To be humble, connotes an adoption towards an eternal spirit of learning and pupilship. In other words, leaders need to remain perpetual students, committing to learning and self-improvement. Leaders need know that they are in a position of mentorship first, and if need be-- strong guardianship when moments of needed directive arise. Leadership requires the vision to chart course, and if you are too busy looking at yourself, you cannot see ahead. It is also requisite to know where to look as well and if you don't know, it requires humility to ask, rely on those on your team and even say "you don't know" but contain the integrity to collaborate and formulate a plan. Teammates are force multipliers and key assets whose expertise can be leveraged.
On the matter of teammates, how a leader hires and selects teammates is crucial. A bad crew member is malignant and fatal, of which can be an obstacle of compounding force, setting one back in a void for months or even years. On the other hands, the selection of colleagues is often a direct reflection of the leader itself.
I posit a thought exercise--
When you look to bring on people to your efforts, do you look for people who are like you with your strengths and weaknesses, or do you look people who are different from you without your strengths?
If you answered with a likeness to you, you answered poorly. Why? If you were to approach a major construction project, would you choose a tool box with a diversity of tools, or would you choose a box of 30 identical screwdrivers?
To select those with different strengths is to select those that counteract your own weaknesses. To identify your own weaknesses, requires an examination of the conscious and unconscious self, which requires humility. Leveraging the correct tool is the meta-narrative as to how humanity has survived. Thus, it is of great importance that when faced with situations that play to your weaknesses, you exercise the humility needed, and trust in those around you to leverage their strengths. Delegation is also an expression of this. Patience requires humility because, an attribute of being human is that we are going to inevitably fail but trusting whom you've delegated to stick to the plan and deliver is rewarding in many more ways than one.
Additionally, knowing when to make an appearance and when not to, is a key skill. When things are going well, reject the arrogance to come in and become overbearing. Let your people drive your success and don't ruin the setup. Good happy people make for great culture, and great culture, drives great business. Inversely, when things are going poorly, resist the urge to conduct overt manoeuvres and essentially do too much. Taking the reins is needed but to remain on the horse, stay away from exerting too much force from the saddle to the reins. Have the humility, and, therefore, the restraint to temper your reactions. Proactivity, calmness, and control are vital. Know when to listen to those around you, and that is to, constantly listen, then consider. Not every thing your teammates propose will be actionable or correct, but listening will engender respect and cohesiveness. The ability to disagree and still dialogue while remaining cohesive is the lifeblood of a healthy society. Truth is objective, but truth without sincerity is a form of negligent disregard.
Humility is the hardest virtue to master because it is easiest to stray from it. It is oxymoronic, unintuitive, and a contradictory juxtaposition against natural urges to claim credit or glory. It is a constant commitment because one act against it causes one to hear the siren song of arrogance, and when you fall into that trap, you are forced to dig yourself out and thenceforth, start from zero. When you fall too much into the side of meekness, you become lame and vulnerable-- prone to being ineffective and not capable of standing up for others. Humility is a commitment to constantly walk a tight rope, forever balancing restraint and strength via moderation. Too much or too little becomes something else entirely.
To lead is to serve. To serve is humble oneself.
That is where you'll find the ultimate reward, self-satisfaction.
Stay grounded, stay successful.