Leadership Paradoxes: Confidence and Humility

Confidence is inspiring. Humility is endearing. 

Confidence helps others believe in us in the absence of certainty. In fact, confidence also helps us to believe in ourselves in the absence of certainty. 

Humility helps us to see how and when to put the team’s interests ahead of our own self interest. An Aussie named John Dickson, author of the book Humilitas, says, “Humility is the noble choice to forgo your status and use your influence for the good of others before yourself.” Humility, when seen in us by others, helps us to be seen as open and available to new ideas and alternative points of view, which helps us to learn and grow.

All good, right? But don’t overdo it. Too much confidence can look like arrogance. Too much humility can look like weakness. Confidence and humility balance one another. In a sense, they need each other.