{"id":2754,"date":"2026-02-17T11:32:20","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T10:32:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.davidreyero.com\/?p=2754"},"modified":"2026-02-17T11:32:20","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T10:32:20","slug":"humble-leaders-leaders-of-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.davidreyero.com\/en\/mythemes\/humble-leaders-leaders-of-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Humble leaders, leaders of the future"},"content":{"rendered":"

The word \u201chumility\u201d comes from the Latin humilitas<\/em>, which is derived\u00a0humus<\/em>, meaning \u201cearth\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We could say that to be humble is to be \u201cattached to the earth\u201d, attentive to reality, without indulging in arrogance or overconfidence.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

An element that provides, therefore, a bonus in the shape of practical wisdom and common sense, over and above whatever experience or know-how each person may have.\u00a0<\/p>\n

An increasingly necessary skill in today\u2019s digital world, where \u201ccheap posing\u201d abounds and the temptation to be arrogant is always lurking when success and recognition accumulate.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I have been lucky enough to meet humble leaders in a wide range of spheres (business, social, educational, family, etc.). Different lives, personalities and origins, but always a common denominator: the marvellous multiplying effect that their humility had on their leadership.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Some years ago,\u00a0Zenger and Folkman<\/strong>\u00a0conducted\u00a0one of the most powerful works of research<\/a>\u00a0on leadership worldwide. Working with a sample based on thousands of responses, they showed how extraordinary leaders multiplied their companies\u2019 profits and sales and their employees\u2019 commitment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Their \u201cextraordinary leaders\u201d model features five elements: performance orientation, interpersonal skills, organisational change management<\/a>, personal capabilities and character as the base and centre of the model.\u00a0<\/p>\n

They define humility as one of the cornerstones of \u201ccharacter\u201d, together with other fundamental attributes such as cordiality, resilience, honesty, self-knowledge and self-development, trust in others and teamwork, or courage to\u00a0<\/strong>make tough decisions<\/strong>.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

In\u00a0Lead with Humility<\/em><\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Jeffrey Krames<\/strong>\u00a0sums up the leadership style of\u00a0Pope Francis<\/strong>. He pinpoints humility as a core component of the Pope\u2019s lifestyle:\u00a0\u201cIf we can develop a truly humble attitude, we can change the world<\/strong>.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Benefits of humility in leadership\u00a0<\/h2>\n

Paradoxically there are plenty of studies warning us of the dangers of arrogance in leaders, yet the attribute of humility seldom appears in\u00a0leadership development\u00a0programmes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This may be owing to the idea that modesty will be a hindrance for the leader. Or maybe it is thought that, rather like character, it\u2019s something that cannot be taught or learnt.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Given that today\u2019s successes are no guarantee of tomorrow\u2019s survival, the multiple benefits of humility are all the more obvious:\u00a0<\/p>\n

I disagree with this perspective. I think that, like everything in life, it can be developed beyond innate abilities.\u00a0It is possible to increase one\u2019s \u201chumility coefficient\u201d through self-knowledge, help, training,\u00a0<\/strong>feedback<\/strong>\u00a0and<\/strong>\u00a0determination<\/a>.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n