Welcome to the lucky 13th issue of In Pursuit of Quality—dropped aptly on the final day of 2023. This one's perfect for the resolution minded.
An old boss of mine shared four traits of the world's best leaders that have always resonated with me: vision, passion, persuasion, and humility. Today, I want to zoom in on humility.
Why? Because, here at the close of 2023, humility is in short supply. Some key business leaders lack it. Many politicians lack it. There's a vacuum of humility out there that's making us devalue what poet T.S. Eliot called "the only wisdom we can hope to acquire." This is nuts. Humility isn't just about good leadership—it's central to living a quality life. Eliot's words remind us that humility is not just an admirable trait, but the cornerstone of true wisdom.
So what is humility? I'll steer clear of murky definitions, instead referencing a metaphor I stumbled across years ago in a book.1 This simple metaphor referred to leadership on the whole. But I think it's even more applicable to the concept of humility. It looks like this:
Yes, that's just a line across the page. Nothing more, nothing less. Just a plain line that I use to symbolize the balance between ego and openness, serving as a gauge for our humility in life. And it couldn't get simpler than this: at home, in the office, or out on the streets, we are either below or above this line of humility at all times.
From Below.
When I talk about being below the line of humility, I'm referring to our commitment to being right. Have you been there before? I sure have. There are times that I've been so convicted in my beliefs that I've gone to battle for them on principle alone. When I've been committed to being right, I've alienated people. I've burned bridges. I've worked myself up into a frenzy over nothing. Facts become less important than boisterous rhetoric. The only thing that's satisfied when we're committed to being right is an inflated ego.
Being below the line of humility also means being defensive and closed. These may, in fact, be the only way to stick to the below-the-line commitment of being right. At home, we point out faults and place blame. At work, we argue for ideas and jockey for position by putting up walls, creating silos, digging our heels in to get a leg up. It can sometimes feel efficient to stay below the line, but does it lead to better quality outcomes? Not for me.
So being below the line of humility looks like this:
It's okay to be below the line sometimes—it's human. There are times we'll go below without even realizing it. But if you're always there—committed to being right, closed, defensive—there's no chance of humility. The pursuit of quality is doomed.
From Above.
Yet there's another view from the line of humility. When I speak about being above the line, I'm talking about our commitment to learning. The opposite of holding firm to what we know is true—what we deem as "right"—is learning about what others believe or hold as true. As hard as it is, the instinct is to go from "you're wrong, I'm right" to "I have my beliefs, but I want to know more about your beliefs." Humility requires asking questions rather than barking answers.
Instead of being defensive and closed, a commitment to learning means being curious and open. It's a shift in perspective from an egocentric worldview to one that includes continual growth through understanding. And just as I've been below the line, I've found myself above the line of humility, too. In my better moments, I've let go of preconceived notions to make room for new knowledge. I've tried to be curious about things outside of my comfort zone—and I've attempted to be open to them often.
Being above the line of humility looks like this:
Just as we can linger below, it's also human to rise above the line. But it's unrealistic to stay consistently above it. The goal is to make an effort as part of a quality life. What if we set an intention to learn something instead of getting our point across? To ask a good question rather than defending our every word? To express a willingness to engage instead of just shutting down? This will lead to better outcomes at work and at home across the board—from productivity and efficiency to healthier relationships.
The Call-To-Action.
Our world is full of buzzing and clamor. The volume of noise is sure to increase in 2024 as the pace of technology accelerates and election season comes to a boil. My hope in rebranding this line of humility is to introduce a beacon for attention.
At any given moment, where are you? Are you below the line? Or above it? The point is never to aim for perfection, but to acknowledge where you are and how you're showing up.
Knowing will make you a better leader at work. It will allow you to be a better friend and partner. It will help to shift the spotlight toward a life of quality, not just more land-grabbing. And if that's not something to aim for in 2024, I'm not sure what is. Good luck and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
With warmth, gratitude and respect.
It’s this one, which I found very helpful leading teams in the past: https://www.amazon.com/15-Commitments-Conscious-Leadership-Sustainable-ebook/dp/B00R3MHWUE
I like the line of humility. Why is it blue?
Lucky 13 seems to be an insightful energy for you Eric. Humility and living below the line are not coherent. Seeking to live a coherent life that does not require secret compartments is the goal. Being humble is to be grateful.