Curia

The tradition around which the Roman Catholic Church shrouds the selection of a new pope is mystical. The idea of a group of decision makers behind the closed doors of the conclave debating candidates while an eager audience awaits a smoke signal in announcement of the results of the day’s work is a stark and welcome contrast to the competitive rush of today’s world, anodyne and analogue in this digital age. I like that this event is still newsworthy to a global society that appears to grow increasingly skeptical and secular with each passing day.  

As I absorb what the Wall Street Journal has to say about the newly appointed leader of the church, I can’t help but agree that there is not only power in the new pope's humility, but power in all of us when we display this lost virtue.

The strength that is borne from humbleness is immense.  A timely example showed itself this week when a cherished colleague of mine won a Champion of Excellence award for embodying the values and culture of our company over his 20-year career here.  This man is kind, thoughtful, calm, and brilliant.  He sits at the apex of his business, President of his group, at the highest executive level in our organization. Infused with integrity, he makes the right decisions even when it’s not the easy thing to do; he puts his people first. When my mother died he asked another colleague to deliver a heartfelt, handwritten note expressing his condolences and sharing a personal story of loss.  When I sent him a congratulatory note for his award, in his reply were words of appreciation for me and the work I do every day for our clients and people.  He is without a doubt one of the strongest men I know.

The idea of creating a wake has not left my mind since my manager painted this picture for me during last week’s discussion about moving my career forward. With the focus shifting from shoring up my own skills to influencing others, it signals affirmation that I am enough.  And when we believe, truly believe, we are enough we can tend to the needs of others with abandon. As leaders we have a responsibility to be people worthy of being followed. I’m conscious of the choices I have when leading my teams, clients and children; how I can advise instead of admonish, support instead of supplant, inspire instead of impress.  This is the power of humility.

I met up with another friend this week, a former teammate.  He glowed telling me how happy he is:  He’s spending more time at home with his family, less on the road for work, amazed at the rewards he’s reaping by investing in his relationship with his wife.  He’s challenged with his projects and his client loves him. He received a positive performance review, coupled with a surprising year-end bonus.  He says he’s got all this money in the bank now and can’t think of a single thing he’d like to buy. Somewhat bemused with this contentment, he asks if I think he’s in the right place, shouldn’t he be clawing his way up the corporate ladder? 

Why does it continue to surprise us that when we invest in others we bring joy to ourselves?  If I had to boil happiness down to the lowest common denominator, it would be the golden rule:  “Treat others as you wish to be treated.”  There is a certain amount of humility required to make this real. And an enormous amount of power for those who choose to act on it. The white smoke over the skies of Rome heralds a leader steeped in humility.  I expect he’ll create a spectacular wake.