How do successful leaders balance strong ambition with humility?
The balance humility and ambition or will, is in itself a study in duality when it comes to leadership. Being modest but willful. Being sometimes shy, but fearless. To grasp this concept, and to provide you with an example, consider Abraham Lincoln, who never let his ego get in the way of his ambition to create an enduring great nation. Henry Adams called Lincoln “a quiet, peaceful, shy figure.” But those who thought Lincoln’s understated manner signaled weakness in the man found themselves terribly mistaken–to the scale of 250 thousand Confederate and 360 thousand Union lives, including Lincoln’s own. The balance of the two is really The Yin and Yang of great leadership. I believe it can only be done if you take the following perspectives on the two: Personal HUMILITY involves demonstrating a compelling modesty, shunning public adulation; never boastful. Acting with quiet, calm determination; relying principally on inspired standards not inspiring charisma, to motivate. It involves c
