Humble Leadership

I witnessed a visioning session in an organization this week that was a remarkable demonstration of humble leadership. The founder, with a handful of staff, had built it from garage beginnings into a local powerhouse in its industry. The founder himself is a charismatic dynamo, whose hand touches everything but actually runs very little.

As he assembled the group of stakeholders, he reported that the goals of the last visioning document had been mostly completed and it was time to set new direction. He interviewed representatives of different programs on stage to review the success and results of those goals. Then he opened the floor to questions and answered all as well as he could.

I have participated and observed a number of these strategy and information-gathering sessions, and in many of them, the leader or leaders have their own agenda. They push the conversation one way or another, or expand upon one topic and brush over others. When I leave those sessions I always feel a little manipulated, as if we have all been pawns to add credence to someone else's big plans.

This man, clearly the driver of the organization's success, avoided all of those traps. Every question or comment was given equal consideration. When asked what he wanted, he simply said, "That's why we're here." He refrained from leading the group in any particular direction, and instead listened to what they had to say.

I am sure that when the document is drafted, his fingerprints will be all over it; that is his job. He will collect the information, his staff will assemble, refine and prioritize it. Then he will be the one to champion the plan and present it back to all of the stakeholders in a way that inspires them to believe.

The organization would probably follow him where ever he chose to lead, but by choosing to be humble in creating the vision, everyone can share the joys and challenges of the journey.