Class:  Leadership 101; Lesson #2: Humility

By far the most important component in leadership is humility.  I was saving this blog until next week but listening to Matt Deggs’ ABCA interview on a podcast yesterday inspired me to write it a few days early.  The biggest message that Deggs delivers is one of humility.  When I hear him talk about his program I hear a unique message of humility in young men that is truly rare.  And in watching his viral interview from this years’ college baseball Super Regional I can tell you that his players mirror his message and it’s the real deal.

Leadership is about relationships.  Relationships with people.  Relationships with broken people.  And people don’t want to build relationships with arrogant jerks.  They might for a while if they feel they are getting something out of it but they won’t follow that person unless they are getting something from the relationship.  There’s a saying that people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.  Author and speaker, Jon Gordon, explores this topic in his book, “You Win in the Locker Room.”  The premise of which if you want a successful team, organization or group it starts with investing in people’s lives.

True leaders have the ability to not think about themselves.  It’s more than ability, it’s a habit.  They habitually lay aside their desires and needs and they focus on others.  Humility is about others.  It’s about loving and caring for those around you even if/when they don’t deserve it and even if you don’t like them!  Remember, ALL people are worth loving.  If you want to be a great leader, lay aside yourself and always make it about others.  That’s not easy and it takes a heart change.

For those familiar with leadership and the concept of servant leadership this makes sense but what about the 16-year-old who has always thought leadership was about bossing people around and chewing people out (which, there is a time for “loving tough” as Coach Deggs puts it)?  For those unfamiliar with this concept or what it really means and looks like in real life situations, I’ll be posting a follow-up with 10 situations where you can actually practice being a great leader and do a self-check.

Right now, ask yourself this simple question:  Is it about me or others?