--- title: Leadership in Business Management Depends on Humility description: Humility is a scary word, and one that those with leadership in business management positions often misunderstand. Here's why being humble is so important. image: https://blog.peoplefirstps.com/hubfs/Graphic%20Showing%20Expose%20and%20Awkward.svg --- [Skip to content](https://blog.peoplefirstps.com/connect2lead/leadership-business-management#main-content) ![people first productivity solutions logo](https://blog.peoplefirstps.com/hs-fs/hubfs/people%20first%20logo%20xlarge-1.png?width=250&height=108&name=people%20first%20logo%20xlarge-1.png) - [Home](https://peoplefirstps.com) - [Leadership](https://peoplefirstps.com/leadership-program-design) Show submenu for Leadership - [The Leadership Challenge®](https://peoplefirstps.com/the-leadership-challenge) - [The Leadership Practices Inventory®](https://peoplefirstps.com/lpi) - [Supervisor Training](https://peoplefirstps.com/supervisor-training) - [Leaders at Every Level](https://peoplefirstps.com/leaders-at-every-level) - [Leadership Coaching](https://peoplefirstps.com/leadership-coaching) - [Leadership Program Design](https://peoplefirstps.com/leadership-program-design) - [Teams](https://peoplefirstps.com/executive-teams) Show submenu for Teams - [Executive Teams](https://peoplefirstps.com/executive-teams) - [Team Building](https://peoplefirstps.com/team-building) - [People Practices](https://peoplefirstps.com/people-practices) - [Communication Skills](https://peoplefirstps.com/communication-skills) - [Trust at Work](https://peoplefirstps.com/trust-at-work) - [Personality Style](https://peoplefirstps.com/personality-style) - [Conflict at Work](https://peoplefirstps.com/conflict-at-work) - Personal Growth Show submenu for Personal Growth - [Soft Skills](https://peoplefirstps.com/soft-skills) - [Your Voice Matters](https://peoplefirstps.com/your-voice-matters) - [Emotional Intelligence](https://peoplefirstps.com/emotional-intelligence) - [1:1 Coaching](https://peoplefirstps.com/1-on-1-coaching) - Resources Show submenu for Resources - [The People First Leadership Academy](http://www.peoplefirstpotential.com) - [Connect2Lead Newsletter](https://peoplefirstps.com/connect2lead-newsletter) - [Books](https://peoplefirstps.com/books) - [Workshop Calendar](https://peoplefirstps.com/workshop-calendar) - [About](https://peoplefirstps.com/about) - [Contact](https://peoplefirstps.com/contact-us) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Home](https://peoplefirstps.com) - [Leadership](https://peoplefirstps.com/leadership-program-design) Show submenu for Leadership - [The Leadership Challenge®](https://peoplefirstps.com/the-leadership-challenge) - [The Leadership Practices Inventory®](https://peoplefirstps.com/lpi) - [Supervisor Training](https://peoplefirstps.com/supervisor-training) - [Leaders at Every Level](https://peoplefirstps.com/leaders-at-every-level) - [Leadership Coaching](https://peoplefirstps.com/leadership-coaching) - [Leadership Program Design](https://peoplefirstps.com/leadership-program-design) - [Teams](https://peoplefirstps.com/executive-teams) Show submenu for Teams - [Executive Teams](https://peoplefirstps.com/executive-teams) - [Team Building](https://peoplefirstps.com/team-building) - [People Practices](https://peoplefirstps.com/people-practices) - [Communication Skills](https://peoplefirstps.com/communication-skills) - [Trust at Work](https://peoplefirstps.com/trust-at-work) - [Personality Style](https://peoplefirstps.com/personality-style) - [Conflict at Work](https://peoplefirstps.com/conflict-at-work) - Personal Growth Show submenu for Personal Growth - [Soft Skills](https://peoplefirstps.com/soft-skills) - [Your Voice Matters](https://peoplefirstps.com/your-voice-matters) - [Emotional Intelligence](https://peoplefirstps.com/emotional-intelligence) - [1:1 Coaching](https://peoplefirstps.com/1-on-1-coaching) - Resources Show submenu for Resources - [The People First Leadership Academy](http://www.peoplefirstpotential.com) - [Connect2Lead Newsletter](https://peoplefirstps.com/connect2lead-newsletter) - [Books](https://peoplefirstps.com/books) - [Workshop Calendar](https://peoplefirstps.com/workshop-calendar) - [About](https://peoplefirstps.com/about) - [Contact](https://peoplefirstps.com/contact-us) [All posts](https://blog.peoplefirstps.com/connect2lead/all) October 24, 2016 # Leadership in Business Management Depends on Humility [PFPS](https://blog.peoplefirstps.com/connect2lead/author/rca532)  ·  2 minute read In leadership in business management, humility is a word often misunderstood by those who see it as a weakness. We associate the word “humility” with other words that are unfair attachments to the true meaning of humility. ![Graphic Showing Expose and Awkward](https://blog.peoplefirstps.com/hubfs/Untitled-4-Mar-15-2023-01-18-48-3016-PM.svg)For example, we sometimes confuse subservience with humility. We also mislabel a lack of confidence with humility. Sometimes, and in some cultures, humility has a negative connotation that is associated with meekness or weakness. And then there’s that really wrong belief that humility has something to do with being humiliated. To be humiliated means to have a loss of pride, self-respect or dignity. None of these are accurate representations of what humility really means. As a leader, it’s important to understand and value true humility. #### Understanding Humility is Key to Good Leadership in Business Management The dictionary definition of humility is “having a modest opinion or estimate of one’s own importance or rank.” To be humble means to not be proud or arrogant. The closest synonym for humble is modest. The word humble, as I am using it here, does not mean a feeling of insignificance, inferiority or low status. As a leader, you can benefit by being humble. Leaders who are arrogant miss out on so many opportunities. Arrogance prevents people from being open to others’ ideas and input. Pride causes people to over-estimate their own abilities and develop blind spots about their weaknesses. You know the old saying “pride growth before a fall.” With humility, your confidence in your own abilities enables you to ask others for help and to respect and value what others can contribute. With humility, you show strength by drawing others into conversations and decisions. With humility you are respectful of work done by others. Arrogance leads to unnecessary competition inside organizations. As a leader, your humility demonstrates a desire for collaboration rather than internal competition. #### Leadership in Business Management Requires Humility This kind of humility does require an extraordinary strength. It requires you to set aside your ego. But if you believe that real strength comes from surrounding yourself with capable, talented people, then you simply must be humble. Otherwise, your arrogance will be self-limiting. Those talented people will not want to work with you and follow you. Ask yourself: am I strong enough to be humble? #### Next Steps to Learn Leadership in Business Management 1. Subscribe to our weekly CONNECT2Lead [Newsletter](https://peoplefirstps.com/contactus/lp) for special offers, content, and blog.   2. [Attend](https://www.peoplefirstpotential.com/) our leadership development webinars to continually grow as a leader.   *[![Graphic Showing Connect to Lead Logo](https://blog.peoplefirstps.com/hubfs/Graphic%20Showing%20Connect%20to%20Lead%20Logo-2.svg)](https://blog.peoplefirstps.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/CONNECT-2-Lead-graphic-smal.png)Deb Calvert is a certified Executive Coach, Keynote Speaker, Certified Master with The Leadership Challenge® and Trainer. She is the founder of People First Productivity Solutions, building organizational strength by putting people first since 2006.*    Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.peoplefirstps.com/connect2lead/leadership-business-management) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.peoplefirstps.com/connect2lead/leadership-business-management) [twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.peoplefirstps.com/connect2lead/leadership-business-management) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://blog.peoplefirstps.com/connect2lead/leadership-business-management) ## Related posts [![Graphic Showing People Having a Lot of Bills](https://blog.peoplefirstps.com/hubfs/527%20-%20Bills.svg)](https://blog.peoplefirstps.com/connect2lead/the-hunter-and-the-hunted) [encouragement](https://blog.peoplefirstps.com/connect2lead/topic/encouragement) ### [The Hunter and the Hunted](https://blog.peoplefirstps.com/connect2lead/the-hunter-and-the-hunted) [![Graphic Showing Reaching the Finish Line](https://blog.peoplefirstps.com/hubfs/motivation.svg)](https://blog.peoplefirstps.com/connect2lead/leadership-management) [CONNECT2LEAD Blog](https://blog.peoplefirstps.com/connect2lead/topic/connect-2-lead) ### [What Is Leadership in Management? Lighting a Fire...](https://blog.peoplefirstps.com/connect2lead/leadership-management) [![Graphic Showing Two Contractors](https://blog.peoplefirstps.com/hubfs/contractor-2.svg)](https://blog.peoplefirstps.com/connect2lead/selling-skills-h2h) [interpersonal skills](https://blog.peoplefirstps.com/connect2lead/topic/interpersonal-skills) ### [The Most Critical Selling Skills Are Interpersonal](https://blog.peoplefirstps.com/connect2lead/selling-skills-h2h) ![PFPS](https://blog.peoplefirstps.com/hubfs/PFPS.svg) ### Deb Calvert, founder Putting PEOPLE First since 2005 [deb.calvert@peoplefirstps.com](mailto:deb.calvert@peoplefirstps.com) [PFPS Information](https://peoplefirstps.com/about) ![C2L](https://blog.peoplefirstps.com/hubfs/C2L.svg) ### Newsletter Sign-Up Join the CONNECT Community for weekly updates, free courses, and bonus content. 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