Knowing how to practice the virtue of humility starts with understanding what humility is. Being humble is not about being a human doormat or groveling to the point where we lose our dignity and self-respect. Humility is rooted in our understanding of our place in God's creation. Humility lacks pretense.
The idea of being humble may sound like an affront to our sense of self-worth, but the opposite is true. Humility may enhance our psychological well-being and improve our interpersonal relationships.
Practicing humility also can make us better listeners. When someone disagrees with us, do we stop focusing on what they are saying to begin formulating a response? We assume we already know what they are going to tell us. A humble approach is to fully listen to what they have to say and when they are finished ask clarifying questions to ensure you have the proper understanding.
In some congregations, humility seems to be intrinsic to the culture. The organizational structure is relatively flat and key responsibilities are distributed among members of the leadership team. Discernment happens after appropriate input from staff, lay leaders or the congregation, a practice that recalls Paul’s words to the Philippians: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.” (2:3-4)
Jim Collins, author of “Good to Great,” found that successful executives had two traits in common: humility and a determination to advance the mission of the organization. To say it another way, their motivation to lead was not limited by their individual preferences. So, although it comes as no surprise that leadership is not easy work, it’s clear that practicing humility is essential to being the leader God has called you to be.
