Humility: the strengths advantage

Humility is about letting accomplishments speak for themselves, acknowledging limitations, and valuing contribution over status

For product and transformation leaders, it’s the strength that builds credibility, fosters collaboration, and keeps teams focused on outcomes rather than ego

At the senior Head of, Director, General Manager, and C-Suite levels, humility stands out as a leadership quality that conveys credibility. It influences without arrogance

Examples of underuse. A Head of Product who underuses humility may overstate their own role in delivery wins, eroding trust and discouraging team ownership. A General Manager who resists admitting mistakes risks losing credibility and weakening stakeholder confidence

Examples of optimal use. A Transformation Director might invite cross-functional team members to co-present updates and outcomes on a rotating basis, signaling shared ownership and reinforcing the message that success is collective, not individual. A CEO might openly acknowledge when external expertise is needed, bringing in advisors or partners to strengthen their transformation efforts. It signals confidence without ego, builds credibility, and accelerates organisational learning

Examples of overuse. Humility taken too far can become self-effacement. A Head of Engineering who consistently downplays their own expertise may struggle to influence critical decisions. A Chief Operating Officer who avoids being visible in the name of humility risks leaving a leadership vacuum, losing the confidence of others, and being locked out of decision making processes

The sweet spot is humility that balances confidence with modesty. Product and transformation leaders who use this strength well create trust, empowered teams, and sustainably deliver impactful outcomes without ego-driven distractions

Research shows that leaders who know, apply, and maximise their strengths experience higher resilience, stronger influence, and improved performance outcomes. Humility is just one of the 24 strengths that we explore in The Strengths Advantage

The Strengths Advantage

Book your team into the half-day workshop to build collective ownership, or choose the 90-minute 1:1 leader session to inspect how humility can strengthen your own leadership presence!