David Marques

I recently wrote a post on the importance of leading with character. Much of this recognition comes from my experience and the wisdom imparted by people who have journeyed alongside me. The opportunities to lead well are everywhere. At home with my wife and kids; at work with peers and leaders; even around town with the people I do life with in my neighborhood or at church. Character is shaped by and for these experiences. It is our character that holds our moral compass. What makes up our character are the standards in our life. Our virtues.

I am creating this series to highlight the character traits that make a difference in my life. I believe they can make a difference in everyone’s life as they are rooted in biblical principles. I am still learning but I hope with sharing I can continue to grow in these virtues. The first one is HUMILITY.

I lead a team of product developers that are way smarter than me. One of my goals is to empower them when faced with challenges. I want to make sure they know they are capable of doing the work. Our product is customer facing and might seem simple at first glance but it’s complex in nature. This spirit of humility is key for our success and it starts with me.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Philippians 2:3 ESV

The way I see it, even though I am the product owner I don’t need to make all the decisions. In fact, I am comfortable in not being the smartest person in the room. I learned that from a mentor years ago as he told me leaders answer the questions “Why” And “What” but the team decides on the “How.”

Ultimately the team needs to see humility reflected in my actions. Acknowledging they are smarter than me on technical issues doesn’t mean I am not equipped to lead the team; it means I recognize the importance of each team member, and I am comfortable in seeing their input more valuable than mine in certain decisions. That confident humility can be hard to describe because it can be questioned for its authenticity. But when consistent these actions build trust and confidence in a team. The same is true in a marriage or when parenting. Real humility empowers both leaders and followers.

How do you see HUMILITY as an important leadership character trait? Share and comment below.