WEBVTT
00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:10.960
Welcome to the very first episode of Introspective Moments.
00:00:11.119 --> 00:00:12.160
I'm Colleen.
00:00:12.480 --> 00:00:29.199
If you've listened to the Strength Catalyst, you know that I spend my time talking with nonprofit leaders about the real challenges they face and how understanding their strengths helps them navigate those challenges with greater intention.
00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:35.920
In between these conversations, I'd like to invite you to join me for these introspective moments.
00:00:36.159 --> 00:00:52.880
Together, we'll explore one strength at a time so that we can better understand ourselves, use our strengths with greater intention, and notice how they shape our work, our relationships, and our everyday lives.
00:00:53.119 --> 00:00:55.520
Let's begin with humility.
00:01:05.680 --> 00:01:15.040
People often think humility means being modest, staying in the background, maybe even thinking less of yourself.
00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:18.799
But I don't think that's what humility is at all.
00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:22.159
Here's something coaching has taught me.
00:01:22.480 --> 00:01:25.359
Humility creates space.
00:01:25.760 --> 00:01:32.239
Space to learn, space to connect, space for others to grow.
00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:43.040
Humility isn't thinking less of yourself, it's being secure enough in who you are that you don't have to make yourself the center of every success.
00:01:43.280 --> 00:01:50.879
One of the people I've gotten to know over the years is Laura, an accomplished attorney who spent her career with the Department of Justice.
00:01:51.120 --> 00:01:58.159
Early in her career, she was preparing for an important trial when a young attorney was assigned to work with her.
00:01:58.319 --> 00:02:07.760
As they reviewed one of the legal key filings together, that younger attorney noticed an important issue that Laura had missed.
00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:13.680
It would have been easy to quietly correct the document and move on for Laura.
00:02:13.919 --> 00:02:21.360
Many of us have been in situations where someone less experienced notices something we've overlooked.
00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:29.759
Those moments can make us feel a little protective of our expertise or maybe even a little reluctant to give someone else too much credit.
00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:32.800
But Laura responded differently.
00:02:33.120 --> 00:02:35.039
She welcomed the insight.
00:02:35.280 --> 00:02:38.800
She recognized what her younger colleague brought to the team.
00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:50.000
And instead of seeing that contribution as a threat to her own credibility, Laura saw it as something that made her collaboration with her colleague even stronger.
00:02:50.159 --> 00:03:02.800
When the case went to trial, Laura intentionally gave that younger attorney meaningful opportunities in the courtroom, opportunities to build confidence and develop her skills as a trial lawyer.
00:03:03.120 --> 00:03:10.960
And years later, at Laura's retirement celebration, that attorney spoke about those moments.
00:03:11.280 --> 00:03:18.879
She said Laura's willingness to share those opportunities had changed the course of her career.
00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:24.879
Laura created space for someone else to discover what she was capable of.
00:03:25.120 --> 00:03:27.280
And that's what humility does.
00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:30.159
Humility creates space.
00:03:30.479 --> 00:03:34.639
It creates space to keep learning instead of needing to be right.
00:03:35.120 --> 00:03:40.319
It creates space for the other people to contribute instead of needing all the credit.
00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:49.840
And sometimes, as it did for Laura, it creates space for someone else to discover what they're capable of.
00:03:50.479 --> 00:03:55.280
Humility isn't just inspiring, it's also been studied.
00:03:55.439 --> 00:03:56.960
Leadership researcher Dr.
00:03:57.039 --> 00:04:01.759
Bradley Owens has spent years studying humble leadership.
00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:20.319
His research, along with a review published in the Journal of Management, found that humble leaders are more likely to seek feedback, encourage learning, recognize other people's contributions, and build a stronger, more collaborative team.
00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:23.680
But research only tells us part of the story.
00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:29.600
Like every strength, humility can be both underplayed and overplayed.
00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:39.759
If you rarely acknowledge your own accomplishments, even when it's appropriate, you may be making yourself smaller than the situation calls for.
00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:42.480
But humility can also be overplayed.
00:04:42.720 --> 00:04:48.879
When someone else offers an idea that's better than yours, can you genuinely celebrate it?
00:04:49.279 --> 00:04:55.519
Or do you find yourself wanting people to notice that you had a good idea too?
00:04:55.759 --> 00:05:02.160
You know, the goal isn't simply to be more humble, it's to use humility with intention.
00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:05.759
So here is something I'd invite you to notice this week.
00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:09.920
Look for one opportunity to create space for someone else.
00:05:10.160 --> 00:05:18.399
Maybe it's recognizing someone's contribution, maybe it's asking another person's opinion before offering your own opinion.
00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:23.199
Maybe it's stepping back so someone else can step forward.
00:05:23.600 --> 00:05:34.079
And finally, if you have a deck of the introspective cards, I'd invite you to pull out the humility card this week and keep it somewhere you'll see it regularly.
00:05:34.399 --> 00:05:40.240
One side of the humility card includes one of my favorite quotes from C.S.
00:05:40.399 --> 00:05:40.879
Lewis.
00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:47.360
Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less.
00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:56.560
To me, that's a beautiful reminder that humility isn't about shrinking ourselves, it's about creating space for others.
00:05:57.519 --> 00:05:59.839
Thanks for spending these few minutes with me.
00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:04.879
And until next time, take a few moments to be introspective.
00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:07.360
Notice what changes.
00:06:08.160 --> 00:06:18.720
This is the first of many introspective moments we'll share together, each exploring a different strength and the difference it can make when you use it with intention.
00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:10.960
Welcome to the very first episode of Introspective Moments.
00:00:11.119 --> 00:00:12.160
I'm Colleen.
00:00:12.480 --> 00:00:29.199
If you've listened to the Strength Catalyst, you know that I spend my time talking with nonprofit leaders about the real challenges they face and how understanding their strengths helps them navigate those challenges with greater intention.
00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:35.920
In between these conversations, I'd like to invite you to join me for these introspective moments.
00:00:36.159 --> 00:00:52.880
Together, we'll explore one strength at a time so that we can better understand ourselves, use our strengths with greater intention, and notice how they shape our work, our relationships, and our everyday lives.
00:00:53.119 --> 00:00:55.520
Let's begin with humility.
00:01:05.680 --> 00:01:15.040
People often think humility means being modest, staying in the background, maybe even thinking less of yourself.
00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:18.799
But I don't think that's what humility is at all.
00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:22.159
Here's something coaching has taught me.
00:01:22.480 --> 00:01:25.359
Humility creates space.
00:01:25.760 --> 00:01:32.239
Space to learn, space to connect, space for others to grow.
00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:43.040
Humility isn't thinking less of yourself, it's being secure enough in who you are that you don't have to make yourself the center of every success.
00:01:43.280 --> 00:01:50.879
One of the people I've gotten to know over the years is Laura, an accomplished attorney who spent her career with the Department of Justice.
00:01:51.120 --> 00:01:58.159
Early in her career, she was preparing for an important trial when a young attorney was assigned to work with her.
00:01:58.319 --> 00:02:07.760
As they reviewed one of the legal key filings together, that younger attorney noticed an important issue that Laura had missed.
00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:13.680
It would have been easy to quietly correct the document and move on for Laura.
00:02:13.919 --> 00:02:21.360
Many of us have been in situations where someone less experienced notices something we've overlooked.
00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:29.759
Those moments can make us feel a little protective of our expertise or maybe even a little reluctant to give someone else too much credit.
00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:32.800
But Laura responded differently.
00:02:33.120 --> 00:02:35.039
She welcomed the insight.
00:02:35.280 --> 00:02:38.800
She recognized what her younger colleague brought to the team.
00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:50.000
And instead of seeing that contribution as a threat to her own credibility, Laura saw it as something that made her collaboration with her colleague even stronger.
00:02:50.159 --> 00:03:02.800
When the case went to trial, Laura intentionally gave that younger attorney meaningful opportunities in the courtroom, opportunities to build confidence and develop her skills as a trial lawyer.
00:03:03.120 --> 00:03:10.960
And years later, at Laura's retirement celebration, that attorney spoke about those moments.
00:03:11.280 --> 00:03:18.879
She said Laura's willingness to share those opportunities had changed the course of her career.
00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:24.879
Laura created space for someone else to discover what she was capable of.
00:03:25.120 --> 00:03:27.280
And that's what humility does.
00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:30.159
Humility creates space.
00:03:30.479 --> 00:03:34.639
It creates space to keep learning instead of needing to be right.
00:03:35.120 --> 00:03:40.319
It creates space for the other people to contribute instead of needing all the credit.
00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:49.840
And sometimes, as it did for Laura, it creates space for someone else to discover what they're capable of.
00:03:50.479 --> 00:03:55.280
Humility isn't just inspiring, it's also been studied.
00:03:55.439 --> 00:03:56.960
Leadership researcher Dr.
00:03:57.039 --> 00:04:01.759
Bradley Owens has spent years studying humble leadership.
00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:20.319
His research, along with a review published in the Journal of Management, found that humble leaders are more likely to seek feedback, encourage learning, recognize other people's contributions, and build a stronger, more collaborative team.
00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:23.680
But research only tells us part of the story.
00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:29.600
Like every strength, humility can be both underplayed and overplayed.
00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:39.759
If you rarely acknowledge your own accomplishments, even when it's appropriate, you may be making yourself smaller than the situation calls for.
00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:42.480
But humility can also be overplayed.
00:04:42.720 --> 00:04:48.879
When someone else offers an idea that's better than yours, can you genuinely celebrate it?
00:04:49.279 --> 00:04:55.519
Or do you find yourself wanting people to notice that you had a good idea too?
00:04:55.759 --> 00:05:02.160
You know, the goal isn't simply to be more humble, it's to use humility with intention.
00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:05.759
So here is something I'd invite you to notice this week.
00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:09.920
Look for one opportunity to create space for someone else.
00:05:10.160 --> 00:05:18.399
Maybe it's recognizing someone's contribution, maybe it's asking another person's opinion before offering your own opinion.
00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:23.199
Maybe it's stepping back so someone else can step forward.
00:05:23.600 --> 00:05:34.079
And finally, if you have a deck of the introspective cards, I'd invite you to pull out the humility card this week and keep it somewhere you'll see it regularly.
00:05:34.399 --> 00:05:40.240
One side of the humility card includes one of my favorite quotes from C.S.
00:05:40.399 --> 00:05:40.879
Lewis.
00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:47.360
Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less.
00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:56.560
To me, that's a beautiful reminder that humility isn't about shrinking ourselves, it's about creating space for others.
00:05:57.519 --> 00:05:59.839
Thanks for spending these few minutes with me.
00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:04.879
And until next time, take a few moments to be introspective.
00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:07.360
Notice what changes.
00:06:08.160 --> 00:06:18.720
This is the first of many introspective moments we'll share together, each exploring a different strength and the difference it can make when you use it with intention.
