HUMILITY IN THE WORK PLACE

I WAS tasked in January to deliver a pep talk for our agency, as part of our Monday’s flag-raising ceremony. It was a few days before the pastoral visit of Pope Francis in the country. So I chose to discuss the virtue of which the People’s Pope is known. Humility.

Pope Francis is known to have plenty of humility. Humility to him means spending time with those people we find hard to live with, those we probably like the least. He denounced self-importance when he preferred a modest two-room residence to a grand papal apartment on Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, when he waited in line with the rest of employees at the Vatican’s canteen, and when he gave up his chauffeur and started taking the bus to work.

When we speak of humility according to Pope’s examples, we can’t help but sound religious, preaching about the teaching of the church. Why not, humility is the mother of all virtues, the most important lessons Jesus Christ imparted to his disciples and believers down to all of us present-day Christians. We’ve learned in the bible that God cannot work on us if we are proud.

Humility came from the Latin humus meaning “earth,” or literary “on the ground.” And to St. Thomas Aquinas, humility “consists in keeping oneself within one’s own bounds, not reaching out to things above one, but submitting to one’s superior.” This is consistent with the teaching of the Catholic Church that humility “in a higher and ethical sense is that by which a man has a modest estimate of his own worth, and submits himself to others.” 

But being humble does not mean thinking less of yourself than of other people, nor does it mean having a low opinion of your own gifts. The basic requirement is to have that “modest” or “right” estimate of your own worth, as God sees you. Just be for what you are and for what you have, and not thinking you are better than other people.

To some, humility is a sign of weakness, poor status or condition, and lack of self-esteem. Maybe this is the reason only a few people can afford to be humble. And this is specially so in the corporate world where assertiveness and authoritativeness often rule over qualification and performance. In every company or agency, humility seems to be out place; it seems everyone wants to compete for recognition, to be on top of things. But we can’t blame people when they do it for survival or promotions’ sake.  

Knowing that, can we still be a practitioner of humility in the workplace? Yes, if we can do these things.

1. Have a perfect quietness of heart. Putting on the heart of humility is having that pure freedom from something that disturbs or excites you. It is having no trouble in the office; never to be irritated or sore or disappointed by the boss, an officemate, a situation, or every bit of news around you. Or in higher level, it is expecting nothing, thinking nothing is done to your disadvantage, and not feeling bad when you are not praised or when you are blamed or despised for doing something. It is being secure of yourself that you should feel nothing, and having a focus on what is really needed.

2. Remove pride. Pride, they say, is the opposite of humility. In the office, proud people are those who are haughtily self-sufficient, those who are feeling too indispensable to take a break from work, that they don’t need anybody’s help. To them, it is the height of disrespect to admit their mistakes and to make amends for them. They rely so much of their talent and skills. They feel they were very important to have unflattering impressions of them. That kind of attitude can really destroy good relationships in the office.  A humble person simple does the opposite of all these things.

3. Just smile and laugh for the best reason. Always wear that ready smile and give your best laugh. According to C.S. Lewis, humor and humility should keep good company. Humor can be a healthy reminder that you are not the center of the universe. Every time you laugh at yourself or with someone else, you acknowledge your own frailty and insignificance. Don’t give serious attention to your ego. Don’t be like the proud, the arrogant and the conceited who cannot even stretch a smile, what with the long face and stern, rigid lips, because they must watch their dignity. You can show modesty and humility when you can make fun of your shortcomings and joke about your mistakes for all your coworkers to see. Don't we love transacting our business at a counter in a bank or a store with personnel wearing an endearing smile rather the one with irritable and grumpy face?  

4. Admit your limitations. We have different status in life, different positions, but we are equal as a person. And we all have our own strengths and weaknesses. Humility is acceptance of our own limitations. Asking advice may be demeaning for a proud leader. But humility is truth according to Erasmus. You must admit you cannot do the job alone. That thought, coupled with a sense of resolve to do something about it and enlist the help and advice of others, is also the essence of leadership.

5. Don’t be a perfectionist. A person who does not have humility is mostly likely a perfectionist. He thinks he always deserves the best. As we have said in no. 4, everyone has personal limitations. And that guy next to you may have a good reason not to meet your expectations. You, on the other hand, cannot achieve too much within a very short period, and without any help from your peers. You can’t be always perfect. Though the desire to be perfect is usually a good thing, it should not be the end-all of your existence in the office. We are not superhumans. And when we impose that high expectations on ourselves or on someone, then we are causing a lot of trouble, a waste of time, and a burnout.  

EASIER said than done? Well, life is a long lesson in humility, according to J.M. Barrie. Just try to practice humility. If you have it, everything else follows. And don’t tell everyone you’re humble, if not the humblest person in all corners of your office. Being humble is an elusive gift. Once you think you are humble, then you have lost it. Humility is like underwear, says Helen Nielsen, it is essential but indecent if it shows.