Humility & Connection

Film critic Roger Ebert said “A movie is not about what it is about. It is about how it is about it.” How you are as a leader comes from who you are as a person. And leadership is, above all, a way of relating with people. A way of connecting.

Most leaders have leverage in the form of a paycheck that they can wield over their underlings when push comes to shove. What if that paycheck wasn’t there? What if your employees were volunteers? What if they didn’t have to be there, but showed up anyway for some other reason? What might that reason be? How would it affect the way you lead?

Humility is the key.

As a leader you’re expected to be strong, resolute, confident, competent, articulate, etc. To a certain degree these expectations are justified. But no one is all these things all the time.

When dealing with insecurity about themselves or their position, many leaders will try to bluff their way through whatever situation they’re facing. Pretend to have it all together, to be something they’re not. Emotionally, intellectually, spiritually, even physically.

But no one likes a poser. No one likes a smarty-pants, especially when it becomes clear that he doesn’t know as much as he once led others to believe. You want to drive wedges into your relationships with others? Bluff. Pretend. You will quite effectively block any possibility of person-to-person connection.

People want their leader to be strong, but they also want someone they can connect with. You want to connect with your people? Show them you’re human. Learn to say “I don’t know.” Learn to ask for help. Be real. Shoot straight.

Remember, it’s not about the leader, it’s about the vision. And the vision isn’t about the leader either.