Leaders, Does Your Team Want You to Be Humble?

July 10, 2018
Leaders, Does Your Team Want You to Be Humble?
Should leaders be humble? We often say yes, leaders should display humility — but there is no shortage of people who have risen to the top of an organization without it. Why the disparity? Research finds that it has to do with what team members expect. If employees prize egalitarianism, a leader who shows humility can promote creativity and open communication. On hierarchical teams, however, employees are likely to expect their leader to take charge and make important decisions. In these circumstances, humility can look like weakness or indecisiveness. In fact, a humble leader can cause these employees to feel psychologically unsafe, making them hesitate to take risks and speak up. This doesn’t mean a leader shouldn’t display humility at all; rather, it’s important to balance authority and humility. Pay attention to the values your team holds and adjust your behavior accordingly.

Adapted from “Research: When Being a Humble Leader Backfires,” by Jia Hu et al.