The Power of Enabling Humility in Teams

Abstract

By studying the performance of extraordinary teams, we observe the power of humility. Research on individual
humility, group humility and team dynamics support these observations and suggest several components of team
humility as well as mechanisms via which humility contributes to team success. Humble teams develop a culture
which nurtures the primary traits that contribute to their performance: kinship, extraordinary collaboration,
professional excellence, and an attitude of inquiry. Leaders can contribute to the development of humble teams
by modeling their own humility and exhibiting a strong professional will. Furthermore, they can nurture an
environment within which humble teams can flourish by creating a psychologically safe environment in which
mistakes are tolerated and authority can be challenged.