Humility Turns Me On

Humble is hot.

But I didn’t always feel that way…

I used to think charisma ruled the day.

Coming up in corporate America, I was drawn to the leaders who took up all the oxygen in the room. They had that undeniable presence, that magnetic pull.

But over time, I’ve learned a far more beneficial truth: it’s better to follow leaders who are more concerned with helping me be better.

“Humble is hot” might seem counterintuitive, especially for business leaders.

Many of you are humble by nature, and that humility often translates into taking on too much in the name of supporting your team. You might believe, as I once did, that a humble leader is willing to shoulder every burden.

But what if we redefined what humility looks like in leadership?

What if true humility actually frees you up to be the best kind of leader—one who empowers others, rather than replacing them?

It’s an Awesome Skill to Lead from the Back of the Line

Great leaders don’t need to be the hero; they are the guide. They understand that their role isn’t to solve every problem or lead the charge on every solution. Instead, they ask powerful questions like:

• “What do you need to solve this?”
• “What do you think is the next best step?”
• “What have you tried, and what did you learn?

They coach instead of control. And provide direction instead of grabbing the wheel. Because of this, their teams become more capable, more confident, and ultimately, more successful.

Do Less to Accomplish More

Humble leaders resist the urge to get into the weeds. This isn’t because they’re “too good” for the work, but because they’re crystal clear on where they bring the most value.

They don’t micromanage, or “rescue” people from problems they’re perfectly capable of solving themselves.

Instead, they delegate. They trust.

They step back so the talented people they hired can step up and shine. (And yes, they occasionally grit their teeth when something isn’t done “their way,” but they know the long-term gain is worth it!)

Leadership Isn’t About Being Impressive or an Ego Trip

The best leaders I know are wildly self-aware.

They understand what energizes them and what drains them, and share that with their team so everyone knows what to expect.

They know what triggers their ego and are able to take a pause before reacting defensively.

They admit mistakes and make room for better ideas, even when those ideas aren’t their own.

They aren’t trying to be everything to everyone; they’re simply trying to build something truly worth showing up for.

When leadership becomes a performance, everyone loses. So they keep it real.

The Power of Humble Leadership

So yeah… humble is hot. But not for the reasons you might think. It’s certainly not about being everyone’s doormat; it’s about empowering everyone, including yourself to build something truly remarkable.

Humble leadership:

• Builds trust.
• Inspires genuine followership.
• And it is a great antidote for burnout.

Lead from a place of humility!

And if you need steps on getting there, give me a call.

Laurie

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