Humility

Humility is not to be confused with submission or inferiority.

Humility is a lack of arrogance & acknowledgement that there is always something to be learned from every experience. Humility, ownership and accountability go hand-in-hand -- leaders with these traits truly believe in winning as a team.

In business – “it’s not my job” should never be in your vocabulary. Humble leaders are always willing to “roll up their sleeves” and do the same work they ask of team members. By working side-by-side with the team, leaders can see firsthand how long tasks take, what resources / tools are needed, whether team members are properly trained, etc. Being a humble leader also builds trust with the team.

This realization has served me well as I work with horses. I keep my horses at home and do most of the training myself. Daily stall cleaning and feeding has a way of keeping me humble. Grooming the horses, sweeping out the barn, cleaning tack are unglamorous jobs that some might delegate to others.

But I enjoy these unglamorous tasks for many reasons. First, if there is something "not quite right" with the horse, I can proactively address immediately because I'm familiar with their habits and behavior. But the best part? Engaging with the horses through unglamorous tasks deepens the relationship and provides the opportunity to just "be in the moment".

My lifelong partnership and journey with horses is the inspiration for “Straight from the Horse’s Mouth”. Lessons from the stable to the workplace.

What do you think? Does humility as a leadership trait positively impact the business?