When you hear that 20% of men believe they could land a plane with no prior experience, it’s tempting to laugh—but it also offers a sobering reflection on the societal conditioning we’ve all been subjected to (YouGov, 2023). This statistic isn’t just about overconfidence; it speaks to the larger construct of male hubris, where men are taught to overestimate their capabilities. In contrast, women are often encouraged to exhibit humility, a trait that is crucial for innovative leaders. While humility has long been mistaken for weakness, it’s the very trait that can drive the kind of leadership innovation the world desperately needs (Nielsen, Marrone, & Slay, 2018).
The dichotomy is stark, and it’s lived out every day in workplaces across the globe. Look at the boardrooms. Look at the government offices. Look at the cultural conditioning that tells men to dominate and women to shrink. Yet, what does that get us? It gets us leaders who are unwilling to apologize, to admit their wrongs, or to even acknowledge that they don’t have all the answers.
My Story, Your Story, and Our Collective Experience
In university, I watched this dynamic play out in real-time. I saw my male professors bluff their way through subjects they barely understood. I watched them, without hesitation, praise male students who confidently spewed inaccuracies. The lesson was clear: confidence trumps competence. But for women like me, humility was demanded, even enforced. Our culture has made it so that admitting what you don’t know becomes a liability, especially if you’re a woman aspiring to be one of the innovative leaders of tomorrow.
When I reflect on my experiences, I see that the same male hubris permeated my entire academic and professional journey. If you say something with enough conviction, people believe you—especially if you’re a man. But what does it mean for those of us who value truth, who understand the power of listening, learning, and collaborating?
Why Humility Empowers Innovative Leaders
Humility has been weaponized against women for too long (Catalyst, 2007.) We’re expected to be humble, to lower our voices, to allow others to take the lead. But here’s the irony: humility is the key to innovative leadership (Nielsen, Marrone, & Slay, 2018). Leaders who are humble can admit when they don’t know something, learn from their teams, and create space for collaboration. Humble leaders aren’t in it for the ego; they’re in it to build something better than themselves. That’s the kind of leadership we need for real innovation. Studies show that organizations led by humble leaders perform better, not in spite of their humility, but because of it (Owens, Rowatt, & Wilkins, 2012).
9 Steps to Humble Leadership
- Acknowledge What You Don’t Know
- Why: Humble leaders recognize their limitations and are open about what they don’t know, which fosters a learning culture.
- How: Encourage curiosity and admit when you need help or additional knowledge.
- Benefit: This approach encourages innovation, as it invites diverse perspectives and solutions from team members.
- Listen More Than You Speak
- Why: Listening allows leaders to truly understand the needs and ideas of their teams.
- How: Practice active listening during meetings or discussions, giving your team the space to contribute.
- Benefit: Builds trust and collaboration, empowering team members to share valuable insights.
- Admit Mistakes and Learn From Them
- Why: Leaders who are humble aren’t afraid to admit when they’ve made mistakes, showing that it’s okay to be fallible.
- How: Publicly acknowledge errors and discuss the lessons learned.
- Benefit: Encourages a growth mindset within the team and creates a culture of continuous improvement.
- Value Team Collaboration Over Personal Credit
- Why: Humble leaders emphasize the collective success of the team over individual recognition.
- How: Share credit for achievements and highlight team contributions rather than seeking personal accolades.
- Benefit: Enhances team morale and fosters a culture of mutual respect and collaboration.
- Empower Others to Lead
- Why: Humble leaders don’t monopolize leadership; they create opportunities for others to lead.
- How: Delegate meaningful responsibilities and empower team members to make decisions.
- Benefit: Builds leadership capacity within the team and encourages innovation from diverse perspectives.
- Foster an Inclusive Environment
- Why: Humility allows leaders to create spaces where all voices are heard and valued.
- How: Encourage diverse perspectives and ensure that quieter team members have opportunities to contribute.
- Benefit: Drives creativity and innovation by leveraging a wide range of ideas and experiences.
- Lead With Empathy and Understanding
- Why: Humble leaders understand and respond to the emotions and challenges of their teams.
- How: Take time to understand the personal and professional challenges faced by team members.
- Benefit: Builds a supportive work culture and strengthens team loyalty and engagement.
- Promote a Long-Term Vision Over Short-Term Wins
- Why: Humility allows leaders to focus on sustainable success rather than seeking immediate rewards.
- How: Prioritize decisions that benefit the long-term growth of the organization and the team.
- Benefit: This ensures enduring success and prevents short-sighted decisions driven by ego.
- Be Open to Feedback
- Why: Humble leaders actively seek and act on feedback, showing that they value input from others.
- How: Regularly ask for feedback from team members and peers, and make adjustments based on that feedback.
- Benefit: Strengthens the leader’s connection with the team and leads to better decision-making.
By integrating humility into leadership practices, leaders can foster a more innovative, collaborative, and empowered team environment. These steps help break away from the traditional leadership models based on dominance and overconfidence, paving the way for more effective and empathetic leadership.
Innovative Leaders Shattering the Glass Ceiling
We all know the glass ceiling is real, but what’s less often discussed is how it reinforces the wrong kind of leadership. The problem is not just that women are excluded; it’s that we are excluding the very leadership traits that could solve the most pressing problems of our time. We’ve associated assertiveness and overconfidence with leadership success, and humility and empathy with weakness. Yet, when men exhibit dominant behavior, they are called “leaders” (SheThePeople, 2021). When women do the same, they are called “bossy” or worse (MSU Extension, 2014).
This double bind is no accident. It’s a feature of patriarchy, not a bug. It’s designed to keep women out of positions of power and maintain the status quo. But this isn’t just a problem for women—it’s a problem for everyone. Leadership based solely on dominance, aggression, and unchecked ego will not move us forward (Zhu et al., 2022). We are at a moment in history where innovation is essential for survival. And the traits most closely associated with women—empathy, humility, and collaboration—are exactly the ones that will lead us toward a better future.
Innovative Leaders and the Future of Leadership
If we want true innovative leadership, we have to break free from the old models that have failed us. We need leaders who are not afraid to admit they don’t have all the answers. We need leaders who can ask for help, who can learn from their mistakes, and who can create environments where everyone’s voice is valued.
The revolution we need is not just about putting more women in leadership roles—it’s about redefining leadership altogether. It’s about valuing the traits that have been feminized and devalued for too long. It’s about recognizing that the future belongs to those who can lead with empathy and humility, not just assertiveness and aggression.
Let’s stop calling women “bossy” when they lead with strength, and stop rewarding men for their hubris. Let’s build a world where the glass ceiling is shattered, not just for women, but for all of us. Because if humility can land an airplane—metaphorically speaking—it can certainly lead us into a more just, innovative, and empathetic future.