Many companies are beginning to realize the importance of humility, as this simple yet effective trait can have a significant impact on the success or failure of an MSP business. Recent studies show humility is a powerful way of leading employees in today’s workplace and it offers a substantial competitive advantage.
Benefits of Having Leaders with Humility
A number of recent studies from the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business demonstrated that humility is valuable in the workplace, creating higher performance and better workplace morale. Leaders tend to be more effective and typically perform better in the workplace if they remain humble. Furthermore, the employees who rated their managers as being humble stated they felt more engaged, trusting, and were more likely to keep working for a firm with this type of leadership. According to the one study, a quieter leadership approach with a focus on listening, transparency, co-workers’ strengths, and being aware of personal limitations, is one of the best ways to manage employees. Ultimately, encouraging humility among your business’s leadership can impact the whole company and create a more relaxed and enjoyable workplace for everyone.
Risks of Leaders Lacking Humility
On the other hand, arrogant leaders are more difficult to work with and can cause unnecessary workplace drama. Instead of increasing productivity and elevating everyone who works under them, arrogant leaders often sew discord within the company and can permanently damage workplace morale. Many top executives are hired due to their particular skill set, but they eventually get removed or even fired because of their personality or unwillingness to work with others. A leader that demonstrates narcissism and arrogance can easily rub employees the wrong way and make it much difficult for an IT provider to experience long-lasting success.
Humility is Not a Weakness
Many people identify humility as being weak or afraid to stand up for oneself. However, humility is the opposite, as it requires significant internal strength and self-confidence to listen to feedback or accept criticism. While it is important to listen to others, an effective leader must retain their clear vision for an MSP business and always look for new ways to improve and reach out to potential clients. Humility is a quiet confidence that knows the expected outcomes and will push employees to their potential without making everyone miserable.
How to Recognize Humility
Humility, or the lack of this key trait, can be identified in a number of ways. For example, if a leader is being celebrated, are they being prideful or letting others receive credit as well? If they are receiving criticism, are they patiently listening or do they get into a heated argument? Understanding the best way to handle these situations is key for any leader to experience long-term success in the IT world. Various scenarios can demonstrate any leader’s humility, and it’s important to reflect on these situations yourself and see where you may need to focus for personal improvement.
An MSP business with leadership that demonstrates humility is much more likely to succeed than another IT company with leaders full of arrogance and pride. As you know, being humble will help build relations with each employee, for they will view you as being easier to discuss problems with and more trustworthy in general. Over time, being humble will transform the workplace into a positive environment, enabling employees to be more productive and satisfied with their work. Start focusing on the art of humility today and reap the many benefits for your company in the future.
