Humility in the project management: strength or weakness?
fosco frongiaSenior project manager| ENTE PATRIMONIALE CHIESA GESU' CRISTO SUGFino Mornasco, Como, Italy
In another discussion, concerning the responsibility and ethical behavior, it was reported this affirmation: "I think people who don't act in ethical way lose the chance to continuously improve because they pursue only their personal interest therefore others renounce to give suggestion, helps, time, availability, or even resources. The ethical people receive these things from others because others trust". I agree with both consideration: people pursue personal interest against project ones and people lost the opportunity to learn and improve by others. Focusing my attention to the second consideration I think people lose this opportunity for lack of HUMILITY. I would like to explain better: I don't consider the humility with a negative meaning (feeling inferior to others and have little self-esteem) but as the serene awareness of our limits - seen as something natural and characteristic of all human beings - and their quality - seen as equally natural and present in all people - as well as the ability and opportunity to learn from everything and everyone. Do you agree with my definition of humility? And more important: do you consider humility as an important quality for a project manager? thanks in advance for your contribution. Fosco Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Humility by definition is the human being condition to recognize her/his strenght and weakness and use it by benefit others without say it. That is the definition. But the word has been used in other sence. I will take the original definition. So it is an strenght. As you know, is critical to be sucessful in any type of activity in our life to recognize our posibilities to do something. Saving Changes...
fosco frongiaSenior project manager| ENTE PATRIMONIALE CHIESA GESU' CRISTO SUGFino Mornasco, Como, Italy
That is correct, the recognition of our possibilities to do something is the basis of the success. This is the only manner to have a correct scenario of the contest. In this sense humility can contribute actively toward the awareness of the situation and the knowledge of the reality.
many thanks
Fosco Saving Changes...
Mazen AlRefaaiSr Engineer| Saudi Bin Ladin GroupMecca, Saudi Arabia
I belive that Humility in general life is very nice, But in Project Management should be balanced as the situation not to affect the personal leader ship and loose control at situation need staff imress and directive control
...
1 reply by fosco frongia
Feb 02, 2016 5:58 PM
fosco frongia
...
Thanks for your contribution Mazen, the acceptation considered for the therm humility is connected to the recognition of our proper strength and weakness but is not related with a possible lack of leadership. It is true that we can have this extreme position but, on my point of view, it is not related with humility but with strength of character. Humility allows to recognize values and contribution by others but doesn't allow degradation toward aspects and behaviors adverse to rules and codes adopted in the project
Saving Changes...
Bruce Gay Principal Consultant| Astrevo LabsPittsburgh, Pa, United States
Humility is a strength and is an important quality for a project manager to develop working with highly-functional teams. Humility is at the core of Servant Leadership.
...
1 reply by fosco frongia
Feb 02, 2016 5:58 PM
fosco frongia
...
Completely agree. Thanks Bruce
Saving Changes...
fosco frongiaSenior project manager| ENTE PATRIMONIALE CHIESA GESU' CRISTO SUGFino Mornasco, Como, Italy
Feb 01, 2016 11:38 PM
Replying to Mazen AlRefaai
...
I belive that Humility in general life is very nice, But in Project Management should be balanced as the situation not to affect the personal leader ship and loose control at situation need staff imress and directive control
Thanks for your contribution Mazen, the acceptation considered for the therm humility is connected to the recognition of our proper strength and weakness but is not related with a possible lack of leadership. It is true that we can have this extreme position but, on my point of view, it is not related with humility but with strength of character. Humility allows to recognize values and contribution by others but doesn't allow degradation toward aspects and behaviors adverse to rules and codes adopted in the project Saving Changes...
fosco frongiaSenior project manager| ENTE PATRIMONIALE CHIESA GESU' CRISTO SUGFino Mornasco, Como, Italy
Feb 02, 2016 9:44 AM
Replying to Bruce Gay
...
Humility is a strength and is an important quality for a project manager to develop working with highly-functional teams. Humility is at the core of Servant Leadership.
This is a great topic. I place high value on humility and though occasionally it may be taken as weakness, the vast majority of the time it makes for stronger relationships with the team and stakeholders. Combine this with gratitude and it creates a positive, productive, respectful environment and builds trust. Those that mistake humility for weakness eventually learn, because this type of leader can also be a tough leader when needed; it's just not the go-to- style and certainly not the preferred style. I also think humility can be disarming. It never creates defensiveness, but increases relatability.
As PMs we set the tone of the working environment on our projects, and so we have the opportunity to shape the project team culture.
Agreed with Bruce Gay, on Servant Leadership. I'm fortunate to work for a boss that embodies this and it inspires me to try to be a better leader as well. Saving Changes...
fosco frongiaSenior project manager| ENTE PATRIMONIALE CHIESA GESU' CRISTO SUGFino Mornasco, Como, Italy
Thanks MIchelle for your contribution; if I have understood well, you consider humility as an important element of a synergic process both in creation of good relationship and in project process.
Is my interpretation correct?
...
1 reply by Michelle Daigle
Mar 18, 2016 7:20 PM
Michelle Daigle
...
Hi Fosco,
I don't consider humility as having to do with processes specifically. It's more of a character trait, the way you perceive yourself relative to others, and a way of interacting with the world and people. A humble person will equally value others as much as themselves. I see humility as being on the opposite end of the same spectrum as ego. But this is just my opinion, of course!
I am not a project manager but I think humility in general is a strength and not a weakness as it builds better relationships between people. I don't know about others but I feel much more comfortable working or being in any kind of relationship with a person that interacts with others with humility. The position of the person in question does't even matter, all that matters is that I have some kind of relationship with him/her.
Probably for project managers humility is important as their work depends a lot on other people upon which they have no control or power. It is important for project managers to build strong relationships with these people and humility will definitely help.
For instance project managers have to establish good relationships with the management of the company for which they work as the management sponsors the projects and controls the resources that are being used in them. The relationship with the customers is probably even more important as the success of the project is when the customer is pleased.
In addition in the IT world project managers must also build strong good relationships with the project team members as most project managers lack domain knowledge and have no formal authority over the team members. When you are not the boss of a group of people, you can't understand in detail what they are doing but you are responsible to a large extent for the results of their work I think humility becomes almost mandatory for success.
...
1 reply by fosco frongia
Mar 19, 2016 7:12 AM
fosco frongia
...
thanks Adrian for your contribution, I think your comment are very appropriate and correct
Thanks MIchelle for your contribution; if I have understood well, you consider humility as an important element of a synergic process both in creation of good relationship and in project process.
Is my interpretation correct?
Hi Fosco,
I don't consider humility as having to do with processes specifically. It's more of a character trait, the way you perceive yourself relative to others, and a way of interacting with the world and people. A humble person will equally value others as much as themselves. I see humility as being on the opposite end of the same spectrum as ego. But this is just my opinion, of course!
...
1 reply by fosco frongia
Mar 19, 2016 7:20 AM
fosco frongia
...
Hi Michelle, thanks for your answer, i agree with you. it is a character of trait surely but at the same time I think people can learn to be humble (experience, errors could be a good teacher).
humility contribute to build good relationships and in this sense it could "light" a synergistic process toward "the scope" of the same relationship. Naturally ego works in the opposite way
