I was embarrassed by the size of the picture of me on our updated blog last week. Doesn't this one look better? The previous picture was created using a template. My mellon is already big enough - figuratively and literally - without having a billboard sized picture of me at the top of the blog. This Blog is about HopeSparks - not me. It just happens to be created by me.
That brings me to the point if this weeks Blog - humble leadership. I am inspired by true long-term leaders. In Good to Great, Jim Collins calls them level 5 leaders. Humility is one of the components of leadership that is attractive and makes you want to follow. True long-term leaders cannot help but spread the credit around. They take great pride in the work their team accomplishes. They don't take false unjustified pride and credit for others work. They also realize it is not about them, it is about the mission. I do not believe that leadership can be effective for the long-term results when arrogance or self-interest is at the heart of decisions.
One misconception of humility is that you are weak and indecisive. Humility is also agreeing with your talents and gifts and operating in them with a focused passion. Sometimes that may even come across the wrong way. No one said leading was easy.
Last year HopeSparks helped over 7000 people. Guess what, I didn't personally help one of them. We have a team of staff and volunteers that carried that load. I was just lucky enough to help steer the rudder and cheer them on.
Love this Dave.
ReplyDeleteI heard of a sign outside an orphanage in Uganda that read
"To really understand someone,you have to stand under them."
I think humility is very easy to confuse with "niceness." Exercising real humility means to be strong and sometimes to confront rather than avoiding conflict. in order to "nice" Ducking it can lead to hitting a "niceberg"
You are doing a great job,keep cheering!