When Humility Gets in the Way
Humble has half a dozen definitions in the dictionary, but the one that resonates most with me is "claiming little for one’s self; not proud, arrogant, or assuming, modest."
In my childhood, I was taught humility at church through the Bible. Verses like James 4:6, “God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble,” were often quoted in services. In my study of the Stoics, I came across Epictetus's words, “We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.”
Unfortunately, these ancient teachings do not always translate well in this modern world of social media influencers, where humility seems to be a thing of the past. Now we have the immortal words of Kendrick Lamar in his popular song Humble to "sit down b**** be humble. As blunt as Lamar’s lyrics are, they remind us that one should remain humble even when successful.
Like all youthful lessons, those on humility have shaped who I am today. Yet the modern world does not often reward quiet competence. I, like many of you, was raised to be humble, yet my role as a public library director demands visibility.
The Why
A colleague once described me as having a “quiet strength.” I loved that. I am definitely a member of the “actions speak louder than words” school of thought. If my actions are good, honest, and of quality, then I should not have to shout my achievements from the rooftops for people to recognize them. There are three reasons for this.
One, as I’ve already described, is humility. Humility is an important quality for a leader to have. I’m no monk, but I do try to live out humility in my professional and personal lives. Humility creates leaders who listen and absorb the ideas of others. Humility builds trust with our reports when we admit our mistakes. Praising the team’s achievements over your own involvement shows those who answer to you that you’re willing to give credit where credit is due. Most importantly, humility breeds self-awareness. Having an awareness of one’s own strengths and weaknesses enables leaders to tap into their teams' collective wisdom rather than relying solely on their perceived merits.
Second, I’ve long resisted social media. Avoiding platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn was once a point of pride, but that stance doesn’t hold up in this role. Used poorly, social platforms are just noise. When they are used well, they are tools of engagement. I’m not there to promote myself, but to make the work of the library and my staff visible to the community. I may not enjoy it, but I no longer see it as optional.
Finally, I'm an introvert. Unfortunately, due to my position as a public library director, I have grown accustomed to public speaking and community engagement. It's a major component of the job. More importantly, I have learned that advocating for oneself and one's library is a vital component of being a librarian. Sometimes this means extolling the organization’s achievements to the powers that be. I’ve learned that you have to tell your story because no one else will tell it for you.
Leadership Requires Voice
What I’ve come to understand is that while humility and visibility are diametrically opposed ideas, they work best when held in tension. Humility shapes how we lead. Visibility determines whether that leadership has any impact beyond our immediate circle. Holding them in tension ensures one does not outpace the other.
In public service, humility is not a virtue if it leaves the community unaware of the value being created on its behalf. If we don’t tell our story, someone else will tell it for us, and they will probably get the facts wrong. The goal is not to be boastful for the sake of attention, that way lies arrogance, not humility. The goal is to be clear, accurate, and purposeful in how we present our work. Public servants, especially in leadership positions, need to advocate to highlight outcomes without inflating our role in them. We must ensure that the credit is shared with the people we work with while getting the story told.
Quiet strength still has a place. But leadership necessitates that, at the right moments, we ensure our story is being heard.
I’m Justin. I write about librarianship, leadership, public service, and books. If you found this piece relatable, leave me a like or send me an email. Subscribe if you want more of what’s bouncing around in my head. If you found this article helpful, consider buying me a coffee.