Why you should be humble at work

In today’s demanding business environment, confidence is a key attribute for success. However, there is a difference between confidence and certainty, and the best professionals are humble enough to know that.

Contrary to popular belief, being humble is not about lacking assertiveness but about having the intellectual honesty to admit what you don’t know, having the courage to ask questions even if you feel “dumb” or vulnerable, and having the willingness to learn from others. That can engender real confidence, the kind that isn’t just based on style but on the certainty of your newfound knowledge and skill.

I first learned this lesson in investment banking, a high-octane profession with large egos and assertive personalities and in which humility can be a weakness. Desperately wanting to be taken seriously, I made it a point to walk around with enough swagger to make The Wolf of Wall Street blush and offer as many opinions to my bosses with as much authority as I possibly could, whether I knew what I was talking about or not. This worked for a while, but then my unwarranted confidence started to trip me up in the form of careless mistakes and lack of attention to detail, which was noticed by my superiors as well as clients.

While it was tough to realize that I was not the financial genius I imagined myself to be and that my unfounded bravado had not fooled anyone, it also taught me to be humble and recognize that I had a lot more work to do to become proficient in my field. As a result, I focused first on honing my craft and only then on walking the walk, which, ironically, became easier as I improved my actual skills. My fake confidence became genuine and that evolution has helped me throughout my career.

There are, of course, limits to humility and being a doormat is certainly not going to enhance your career. People respect those who are not afraid to communicate their thoughts, their ideas, and even feelings, to the world, and to fight for their convictions. That is also a critical component of effective leadership. But if that confidence prevents you from actively seeking new avenues of learning and self-improvement, it will only carry you part of the way on your professional journey.

So what does being humble at work really mean in practice? These four rules can help you incorporate humility into your roster of professional skills without compromising your career:

1. Think twice before acting. Never make an executive decision that you are not really empowered to, or that is not backed up with sufficient knowledge, just to impress your boss. If you really want to make an impression on your superiors, or if you are a leader and want to impress your team, do your homework first. A bad decision made in the heat of eagerness will hurt your credibility in the long run.
2. Ask plenty of questions. Obviously, not every question belongs on your boss’ desk and sometimes it’s better to ask your peers or even your juniors first. While we all want to avoid exposing our weaknesses to our colleagues, the reverse also holds true. Your colleagues will respect you for having the guts to admit your lack of knowledge about something. No one is omniscient so don’t waste time trying to always look smart. It’s much better to be smart.
3. Admit your mistakes and avoid being defensive. I’m not suggesting that you spend weeks apologizing for every oversight, but there is nothing more unimpressive than someone who makes a mistake but refuses to own up to it. It exhibits insecurity and a lack of professionalism. It’s time to abandon outdated precepts like “never complain, never explain.” That’s called being stubborn, not confident.
4. Create your own professional goals. Setting expectations for yourself and exceeding them is even more gratifying than surpassing someone else’s standards, and in the eyes of an observant superior, a surefire sign that you deserve career advancement.