Be “Confidently Humble”
The ‘fake it till you make it’ aphorism is an endemic condition in consulting. In any given year a consultant could work across a wide variety of clients, projects and multiple industries. As I work with newer consultants, it’s important to be comfortable with this from the get-go. The truth is, you don’t know the industry… yet. Most clients get that, and appreciate that you’ll be getting smarter fast. So the sooner you are open to expressing what you know and what you don’t, the better.
Being "confidently humble" is about striking the balance between acknowledging your strengths and abilities while also recognizing your limitations and being open to learning from others.
As a leader, here's why this is so important for both you and the teams you serve:
Trust in Leadership: Just because you’re the leader doesn’t mean you have all the answers. You don’t. Of course you don’t. Good leaders exude this confident humility to be more effective. It shows we’re human, and that we don’t have all the answers. This can help inspire and motivate others who will view you no as someone they need to prove something to, but as someone approachable and open to feedback and collaboration.
Continuous Improvement: Confident humility acknowledges that we aren’t there yet, and we might not get exactly where we want to, but there will always be room for improvement. This open mindset encourages our teams to seek personal and professional growth, to encourage and increase their participation in finding better outcomes.
Building Relationships: Have you ever worked with anyone, leader or colleague, that seems to always sound like they “know it all?” These people tend to do a much better job of promoting/defending their own abilities than they do lifting the potential of others. People are generally more drawn to those who are humble yet confident. This approachability can help in building strong relationships, both personally and professionally.
Adaptability and Resilience: Being a confidently humble leader means being open to new ideas and perspectives. In good times, flexibility is an invaluable team dynamic in fast-paced environments where both internal corporate changes and external competitive threats are forcing quicker adaptations. In bad times, humility can be especially vital in more turbulent environments. When as a leader you are open to sharing the same anxieties/concerns about a direction (or the lack of one), it contributes to an overall team resilience. When faced with challenges or setbacks, this acknowledged humility helps us all bounce back, as collectively we’re less likely to be overly discouraged or defensive.
Having a realistic and grounded view of yourself and your abilities is the path to better decision-making, stronger relationships, and personal growth.