Humility is Confidence

I had a wonderful opportunity to share my thoughts on humility in the “leadership corner” of my team’s employee newsletter at work. I thought I’d share it with you as a new week begins.

We all need to be reminded from time to time that there is no more powerful posture we can assume in this life than one of humility and service.

Serve well this week!
-Tim Hiller

Seconds remained in the 2002 district semi-final basketball game as a scrawny freshman stepped to the free throw line. His twig-like arms bounced the ball three times as he gazed toward the basket. It all came down to this. He raised the ball and released it toward the rim.

Clang. Off the back of the iron. Season over.

As I dejectedly walked through the dark gym to the bus after my charity stripe failure, the silence was broken by the voice of my teammate’s uncle.

“You’re the man,” he said.

“I don’t feel like it right now,” I replied.

“But you’ve got to believe it,” he fired back. “From now on, when you step to that line, you tell yourself, ‘I’m the man, this is why I’m here.’ But you never tell anyone else.”

Humility gets a bad rap in our society today. When we hear the word humble we think lowly. We think trampled upon. We think loser. But nothing could be further from the truth.

What’s my definition of humility?

Humility is confidence kept to oneself.

You see, humility is not thinking less of yourself. It’s thinking of yourself less. Humility is being secure in who you are and what you believe—but like my friend’s uncle taught me, you keep that confidence to yourself.

In our world at work, humility is being confident enough to do the right thing for the customer every time. And even though you know you’re doing the right thing, you don’t need to boast about it—because owning the customer’s experience is the standard of excellence we deliver daily.

But humility is also being confident enough to ask for help. Being secure enough to say “I’m sorry. I was wrong.” Being strong enough to put others’ needs ahead of your own.

Humility is not weakness. Far from it. Humility is filled with power.

In my opinion, when I step into the office each day, I get to work with the best team around. We get to help customers. That’s why we’re here. But let’s just keep that between us. Because humility is confidence kept to oneself.

 

It’s Your Turn…share your comments! The most powerful people in life are those that give their power away. In what area of your life can you give power away this week in order to empower someone else?