A study published recently in Human Resource Management counters the widespread belief that leader humility hinders leader career advancement. Building on human capital theory and theories of leader humility, the study examined how leader humility affects leader career outcomes within organisations, and how humble leaders can overcome the prevailing notions of humility as a career disadvantage and advance their own careers. Using multisource data from superiors, bosses, peers and subordinates of over six hundred leaders who participated in a leader development programme in a variety of organisations in eighteen different industries, the study found that by helping followers grow via informal career mentoring, humble leaders can gain status and ultimately secure a position of power within organisations and ascend in their careers. The study prompts a re-evaluation of the role humility plays in leadership and human resource management practices and increases our understanding about what mentoring does for mentors.
Read the full article here.
Read a Press Release about the article here.
Watch the interview with the authors here.
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Jelena Petrovic
Knowledge Transfer Editor, Human Resource Management
Associate Professor, University of Southampton, UK
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