Humility is a much abused word. We have become used to it meaning someone with an overtly quiet and unassuming attitude rather than a leader having a strength that does not require constant recognition.

Doing some thinking and being challenged by what this meant I came to two principal conclusions:

Firstly, humility is the ability to not overstate or understate our abilities or emotions, but simply to be as honest as possible. Not to boast, but to achieve in changing the world by knowing our vision and understanding the needs of those around us. The Medievals listed the understating of our abilities, or false humility, as much a sin as boasting. False humility was, and is, not something to practised or admired. True humility leads to one of the cornerstones of leadership: a true understanding of ourselves; perhaps this is this the medieval definition of emtional intelligence?

And secondly, humility is how we receive. If we receive advice, and even criticism with a listening heart then our actions come from a place of action that places change at its center, that than more human negative emotions.

And the natural conclusion? Leaders who listen, are more effective than those who shout.