Ch. 1: Humble Leadership (1 of 2)

Delineating the two leadership styles of humble leadership and the “leader-as-hero” style will be the first topic discussed from Chapter 1.

HUMBLE LEADERSHIP

I am starting with humble leadership first despite it being mentioned second.

When discussing humility, I find it interesting that most definitions describe it as a “modest view of one’s own importance” or “the act of being humble”. I honestly admire this view of leadership the most. It often coincides with “servant leadership”.

A great example of this type of leadership is David Green, founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby.

If there was one place in which I could choose to spend all my extra money, Hobby Lobby would be it. Their rotating inventory 50% off sale sucks me in every time.

David Green has an estimated net worth of $6 billion. He came up with the idea of the arts and crafts supplies store in 1970 in his living room in Oklahoma City and used only a $600 loan to get started (Bawden-Davis). Currently there are 500 stores in 41 states. Growing up as a preacher's son, David attributes much of his leadership style to biblical principles (Work, 2019). Green believes in putting God and others first. According to Green, in an interview for Life Beautiful Magazine, there are four keys to success in retail that he describes in his book, More than a Hobby: How a $600 Startup Became America’s Home and Craft Superstore (Thomas Nelson, 2010). Green states these keys are important and can be used for almost all businesses. 

The keys are:

1. To keep you on ethical footing, run your business in harmony with God’s laws found in the Bible. Also, seek to please God in everything you do (6:20, Cooper, & Nkjv).

2. Focus on people (employees and customers) more than money. Without them you’re going nowhere. Utilize empathy and make sure you try to see things from the perspective of the customer. And be sure to have all the right employees working in the right areas (6:20, Cooper, & Nkjv).

3. Be a merchant instead of a "business-person" seeing as though your core activity is buying and selling merchandise. The rest can be a distraction (6:20, Cooper, & Nkjv).

4. Make sure things are all working in alignment to support all these keys (6:20, Cooper, & Nkjv).

Green is the epitome of humble leadership. He has become known as the largest evangelical philanthropist in the world, and yet he still chooses to fly coach (Bawden-Davis). Even his own wife received no pay the first 5 years as she helped him to get started, but Green stresses that family life is very important to him and that he makes sure to not overwork (Work, 2019).

The text described this leadership style to be the hard-working, behind-the-scenes leader who quietly builds a strong, enduring company by supporting and developing others rather than touting his or her own abilities and successes (Daft, 2018). Green does well to fit this character description.

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