Teaching Humility

One of the more authentic scenes of The Last Dance was an interview with James Worthy, a former college basketball teammate of Michael Jordan's at North Carolina. Worthy said, “I was better than he was — for about two weeks.” Worthy would leave school early and become the first pick overall in the 1982 NBA Draft. For him to say Jordan was better demonstrated that he was candid and humble. When players and staff can evaluate themselves honestly, it makes the leader’s job much more natural and fuels the team. 

But not all players are like Worthy. And while we as leaders certainly have an obligation, to be honest, we need to do it productively so our players feel they can perform at their highest levels. It becomes a double-edged sword. In one sense, we are pumping up our players’ confidence. In another, we are trying to get them to accept their roles. Besides teaching our players/staff their assignments, we as leaders need to spend as much time as we can on humility. Leading with humility will allow others to understand the importance of being humble in the team environment. 

Here are 4 steps we can help to teach our players the virtues of humility:

1. We all must be honest with ourselves and recognize our faults. As leaders/coaches, we must let the group know we ourselves are not perfect. When we announce we need to improve as a team, let’s make sure we mention WE ALL need to improve — from coaches to the front office. Humility is something everyone needs. 

2. We appreciate all that we have. Whether it has the best coffee in our break room or the best weight room, whatever we have as a team, we need to show appreciation.  That includes leaving things as they were before we used them. Remember, when the Army football team left the Oklahoma locker room after a heartbreaking loss in 2018, they still said, “Leave it as we found it.” That's humility. 

3. Admit mistakes, embrace mistakes, and share mistakes. Most leaders feel admitting mistakes makes them feel weak; yet, in reality, it allows them to be humble, vulnerable, and strong. Explain how and why mistakes occur and don't shy from saying ‘I was wrong.’ Guess what: Players/staff will follow suit. 

4. Show appreciation to all. Take time to appreciate what everyone does for the team. From the groundskeeper to the cleaning service, spend time making everyone feel a part of the team. Give hand-written notes to the people who perform for others but often are not recognized. Make them feel their work is essential and that you are humble enough to say thank you. 

Each day we need to spend time understanding, teaching, and practicing the power of humility. We cannot assume everyone will be like James Worthy and admit they are not as good as they thought.

P.S. If you are in search of a book recommendation, our team at The Daily Coach highly recommends The Road to Character by David Brooks. Looking to some of the world’s greatest thinkers and inspiring leaders, Brooks explores how, through internal struggle and a sense of their own limitations, they have built a strong inner character. Blending psychology, politics, spirituality, and confessional, The Road to Character provides an opportunity for us to rethink our priorities, and strive to build rich inner lives marked by humility and moral depth.

Please forward and share this email with your friends and family.