{"id":39058,"date":"2024-10-24T04:29:29","date_gmt":"2024-10-24T11:29:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=39058"},"modified":"2024-10-24T04:29:29","modified_gmt":"2024-10-24T11:29:29","slug":"what-is-humility-anyway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/what-is-humility-anyway\/","title":{"rendered":"What is humility anyway?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

Humility can be a tricky concept, meaning different things to different people. Merriam-Webster\u2019s dictionary says it means \u201cfreedom from pride or arrogance.[1]<\/a>\u201d However, the Oxford English Dictionary defines it as \u201chaving a lowly opinion of oneself.[2]<\/a>\u201d That\u2019s not exactly the same thing. The authors of Humble Leadership<\/em> treat humility from a bit narrower perspective. Schein and Schein zero in on \u201csituational humility\u201d as characterized by:<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  1. accepting uncertainty, while remaining curious to find out what is really going on,<\/li>\r\n
  2. being open, intentionally and mindfully, to what others may know or observe, and<\/li>\r\n
  3. recognizing when unconscious biases can distort perceptions and trigger emotional responses.[3]<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    This \u201challmark mindset\u201d is to be paired with the humble leader\u2019s \u201cability to leverage Level 2 relationships[4]<\/a>\u201d meaning warm, authentic relationships that don\u2019t overstep professional boundaries. Applying these two principles, say Schein and Schein, will lead to open flow of information and more effective innovation within any organization.[5]<\/a><\/p>\r\n

    What?!<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

    I find it interesting that the concept of humble leadership is being treated like a ground-breaking concept. I\u2019m not only talking about this book by Schein and Schein. According to an article that appeared in the Journal of Organizational Behavior, \u201cRecent academic research has proliferated around the construct of humble leadership.\u201d[6]<\/a> But our Christian worldview has underscored the importance of humility since the beginning. The following verses are only a few of the many examples I could choose from:<\/p>\r\n

    2 Chronicles 7:14<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>ESV<\/p>\r\n

    If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.<\/p>\r\n

    Proverbs 1<\/strong>1:2<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>ESV<\/p>\r\n

    When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.<\/p>\r\n

    James 4:10<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>ESV<\/p>\r\n

    Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.<\/p>\r\n

    Philippians 2:3<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>ESV<\/p>\r\n

    Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.<\/p>\r\n

    Of course, let\u2019s not forget our model in all things, Jesus, was the ultimate example of humble leadership. Abraham Cho puts it beautifully when he says, \u201cTo save the world, [Jesus] chose to embrace the humble circumstances of a manger, a carpenter\u2019s bench, a subjected and defeated people. He became the man of sorrows, familiar with affliction, the one who had nowhere to lay his head. He chose to keep company with those of no account\u2014you and me\u2014even to the point of dying the humiliating death that was reserved only for the lowest of the low.\u201d[7]<\/a> So to us as Christians, humble leadership should be part of our DNA. It should come as no surprise to us that humble leadership is effective, because as God\u2019s creations humans respond positively to the way he designed us to be.<\/p>\r\n

    How?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

    I\u2019ll admit that as I read this book, much of it seemed relevant only to leaders in large, corporate organizations. But as I dug a little deeper, I began thinking about the non-profit that I envision starting in the next year or so. While that will never be a corporate endeavor, it will certainly require a \u201cHumble Leadership\u201d attitude, so I began to take note of a few lessons to remember for the future.<\/p>\r\n

    I was especially intrigued by the discussion of culture within an organization. What are the values that an organization devoted to educating parents should espouse? A cursory brainstorm came up with the following:<\/p>\r\n