E167 | Why Humility Can Be Harmful

These days it can feel like we’re being beaten over the head with leadership cliches like “grind in silence,” “be seen not heard” and other preachy rhetoric about servitude...

We’ve been told that good work will speak for itself and that self-promoters aren’t in it for the “right reasons”...

But how do we reconcile these “leadership laws” with the understanding that in order to adapt and evolve we have to be vulnerable and put ourselves (and our work) out there?

In truth- like anything, excessive modesty can be a hindrance. Today’s episode is all about what happens when humility goes too far. Specifically- why not speaking or standing up for yourself can lead to lower self-esteem, career/personal stagnation and poor quality work.

If you want to dive deeper into this topic, check out these other episodes:

1. E93: The Sin of Self-Promotion
2. E56: The Weaponization of Guilt & Not Being a Sucker
3. E137: Greg Adamson: Downfalls of Servant-Based Leadership

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Finally, if you’re looking for a complete toolkit on how to:

• Overcome self-limiting behaviors and beliefs
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• Test and tweak your live product
• Build a values-based brand

Check out our newest online course Blindspot. It’s not open right now, but make sure to get on the list so you’re the first to know when it is!