What does humility mean as a core value?
Humility as a core value means seeing your own importance accurately and holding it lightly, staying open to being wrong and to learning from anyone.
Humility sits comfortably alongside confidence. You can be good at your job and know it, while still assuming you might be wrong, that others see things you’ve missed, and that your title doesn’t make your opinion worth more. Humble people tend to be easy to learn from and easy to correct. If this is one of your core values, self-promotion probably makes you wince, and giving credit comes more easily than taking it.
What does humility look like in practice?
- You say “I don’t know” in meetings without feeling diminished.
- You ask junior colleagues for feedback and act on what they tell you.
- You point to the team when you’re praised for a result.
- You change your mind publicly when someone makes a better case.
- You do the washing up at the event you organised.
When is humility overplayed?
The shadow of humility is self-erasure. You undersell your work, let others take credit, hesitate to lead when you’re the right person, or deflect praise so quickly that people stop offering it. In a leadership role this can leave a team without the clear, confident direction it needs. Held well, it is accurate: you know your strengths as well as your limits. You could try writing down three things you’re genuinely good at, and saying one of them out loud this week.
Often confused with
Humility vs Respect
Respect is how you regard other people. Humility is how you regard yourself: accurately, and without inflating your own importance.
Humility vs Open-mindedness
Open-mindedness is a willingness to consider new ideas. Humility is the deeper recognition that you might be the one who’s wrong.
Humility vs Self-respect
Self-respect is valuing your own worth. The two sit happily together: humility simply doesn’t rank your worth above anyone else’s.
Questions to sit with
- When did you last hold back a contribution because putting yourself forward felt uncomfortable?
- Who can tell you you’re wrong, and when did they last do it?
- What part of your work are you quietly proud of but never mention?
More values in Grace
Calm, composure and a quiet, balanced life.
About the author
Matt Rutherford is a Career and Leadership Coach. The Values Finder is the same exercise he uses with his coaching clients. He also writes Stuff that MattRs, a weekly newsletter with practical ideas to help you think clearer and work better.
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