In today’s world, being "busy" is often worn as a badge of honor. We equate a packed schedule with importance and productivity, as if having endless tasks on our to-do lists proves our worth.

When we think about some of the most successful business leaders of the modern era—figures like Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Ballmer, or Travis Kalanick—the word "humble" doesn't often come to mind.

Navy Captain David Marquet was handed an enormous challenge when he took command of the nuclear-powered submarine USS Santa Fe. It wasn’t just the fact that the Santa Fe was a multibillion-dollar piece of technology that demanded precision at every level—it was also the ship’s reputation.

From the sports field to the classroom to the boardroom, humility unlocks potential in ways we are only beginning to understand. In a world as complex as ours, humble leadership is more essential than ever.

In today’s volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world, the old model of leadership no longer holds. Gone are the days when leaders could be expected to know everything and be the infallible heroes steering the ship.

In the world of leadership, vulnerability is often perceived as a weakness. However, true leaders know that vulnerability is a strength. The four most important words you can say as a leader are, "I screwed that up."

Great leaders come in all shapes and sizes, each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses. Yet, amidst this diversity, there are a few universal qualities that all effective leaders possess. I call this the golden combo: confidence, humility, and ambition.

Humble leadership is not about being meek or submissive; it's about recognizing the strengths and contributions of others, fostering an environment of mutual respect and collaboration.

Radical Humility transcends traditional notions of authority and power, fostering environments where growth, collaboration, and authenticity thrive.

The ongoing challenge for leaders is to cultivate an environment where strong relationships are the norm, not the exception.

One critical aspect of their journey involves crafting a personal WHY statement. This statement defines their core purpose, values, and priorities in life, guiding them through significant life changes.

As a self-aware leader, you should assess your strengths and weaknesses in line with how others see you. There is a solid body of empirical research demonstrating that leaders with greater self-awareness make better decisions, build stronger relationships, and communicate more effectively.

Humility often gets a bad rap because it is associated with weakness. But humble leaders are, in fact, fundamentally confident, decisive, and ambitious.

The idea is stop making New Year's resolutions and started picking One Word for the upcoming year. No resolutions, no goals... just One Word that gives meaning, mission, passion and purpose. One Word that will you help be the best you can.

Remember, as a leader, you're always on stage, the show is always on and your team is watching your every move: What you say and don’t say. What you do and don’t do.

Fast forward to 2020: With a carefully planned succession process, Ajay handed the reins to Michael Miebach, a seasoned Mastercard executive. Ajay's tenure began with the goal of replacing himself.

In August 2012, Best Buy was on the brink of bankruptcy. The newly appointed CEO, Hubert Joly, was under tremendous pressure to prevent disaster and turn the big box store around.

Some experiences are both a mindf&*% AND a massive learning opportunity. I am in the best shape I have been in a long time, I trained well, got all my gear sorted and most of all I was really looking forward to my Everesting challenge last weekend.

True self-knowledge when preparing for my Everesting means, for me, means radical self-acceptance, which is easy to write but can be hard to pull off. Radical acceptance is a psychological concept rooted in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).