The value of humility is vastly underrated
Here’s how leaders should communicate a willingness to learn, an openness to new information and the vulnerability to admit when you are wrong.
[Editor’s Note: PR Daily has partnered with The Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations to develop our newest column, Lessons in Leadership. This column will rotate among Plank Center Board of Advisor members, their emerging leaders network and board alumni, concentrating on moments of personal leadership and the lessons they impart.]
This leadership moment came courtesy of someone I’ve never met, but sure wish I could have worked for.
The lesson is about the role of humility—perhaps the most underrated aspect of contemporary leadership. It came via Dara Khosrowshahi’s farewell memo to Expedia employees, announcing that he was leaving the company after serving as CEO for 12 years to take the top job at Uber.
His remarkable message said, in part:
“I have to tell you I am scared. I’ve been here at Expedia for so long that I’ve forgotten what life is like outside this place. But the times of greatest learning for me have been when I’ve been through big changes, or taken on new roles—you have to move out of your comfort zone and develop muscles that you didn’t know you had.”
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