Humility: Your Hidden Tool for Success

In a world where success and expertise are often celebrated, it’s easy to forget one of the most important qualities that can help you learn and grow: humility. Humility isn’t about pretending you don’t know anything or downplaying your strengths. It’s about recognizing that, no matter how much you know, there’s always more to learn. And when you embrace humility, it can become a powerful tool for growth—both personally and professionally.

Humility shapes how you relate to yourself, others, and the world around you. It’s generally seen as a positive trait because it reflects values like respect, empathy, and a willingness to learn. Humble people tend to be kind, patient, and aware of their strengths and areas for improvement. So, how does humility help you succeed in learning?

Humility Helps You Keep Learning

Humility is about understanding that learning doesn’t stop. No matter how much you’ve accomplished, there’s always more to discover. Humble learners are open-minded, curious, and adaptable. These qualities help them thrive in any learning environment. Here’s how humility can help you:

1. Openness to Feedback: Humble people are more open to feedback because they don’t take it personally. They see it as a chance to improve. For example, imagine a software developer who regularly asks for feedback from teammates. By welcoming criticism, they get better at coding and keep up with new practices in the field.
2. Curiosity: Humility sparks curiosity. When you accept that you don’t know everything, you become more eager to ask questions and explore new things. Take a marketer who remains curious even though they’re an expert. They attend conferences, read widely, and connect with people from different fields. This openness drives innovation and helps them learn more.
3. Growth Mindset: Humility goes hand in hand with a growth mindset—the belief that you can improve through effort and learning. Humble learners see challenges as opportunities to grow. For example, if you’re struggling with math, you don’t give up. Instead, you see mistakes as chances to get better and build your skills over time.
4. Self-Awareness: Humble people are more self-aware. They know their strengths and weaknesses, which helps them focus on areas where they can improve. Imagine an employee who struggles with public speaking but is aware of this challenge. Instead of avoiding speaking opportunities, they acknowledge their fear and work on improving their skills by practicing regularly, seeking feedback, and gradually becoming more confident.
5. Collaboration: Humility makes you more likely to collaborate. You’re not threatened by others' knowledge; you see it as a chance to learn. For example, a leader who values input from everyone on the team helps build trust and creates a space where everyone can learn from one another.

Avoiding Overconfidence: The Dunning-Kruger Effect

The Dunning-Kruger effect refers to a cognitive bias where individuals with limited knowledge or skill in an area tend to overestimate their abilities. The term comes from a 1999 study by psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger, who found that people who scored the lowest on tests of humor, grammar, and logic were the ones most likely to overrate their performance.

This overconfidence can impede learning, as those affected may resist feedback or fail to recognize their limitations. Humility serves as a counterbalance to this effect by fostering self-awareness and a recognition of one’s limitations. Humble learners are more likely to acknowledge that they don’t know everything, which makes them more open to feedback and opportunities for growth.

Humility helps prevent the overconfidence associated with the Dunning-Kruger effect. By understanding that there is always more to learn, humility keeps you grounded. It ensures that you don’t get stuck thinking you know it all, and instead, you keep learning and growing.

A personal example 

When I first started college, I enrolled in a basic IT course. We were given the option of working through either a basic or advanced workbook, and the teacher explained the difference between the two. My friends all chose the advanced workbook. In a moment of humility, I decided to go with the basic workbook.

A few weeks in, my friends started coming to me for help with some of their tasks. By starting with the basics, I had the right foundation and support to catch up to them—and even move past them. Had I chosen the more advanced workbook, like they did, I would have struggled, just like they did. Their lack of humility led them to bite off more than they could chew, maybe because they didn’t want to be seen as beginners.

I never felt insecure about my choice. It wasn’t a competition, but if it was, I suppose I would have had the last laugh. By embracing humility, I set myself up for success, while they were left trying to figure things out on their own.

Conclusion: Humility as a Path to Mastery

Humility is not just a nice trait—it’s a key to becoming a better learner and achieving success. When you approach learning with humility, you open yourself up to new perspectives, experiences, and opportunities for growth. Humble learners are curious, embrace challenges, seek feedback, and understand that learning is a lifelong journey.

Humility is not about diminishing your abilities; it’s about recognizing the endless possibilities for growth and knowledge. By embracing humility, you unlock your potential to be a better learner, collaborator, and person, creating a lifelong love of learning.

Even if humility doesn’t come naturally to you, it’s something you can develop over time. By reflecting on your experiences and choosing to embrace humility, you can make it a regular part of your life. It’s a choice that anyone can make, no matter their background or personality.

How to Practice Humility:

1. Recognize Your Limitations: Acknowledge that no one knows everything, and there’s always room for improvement.
2. Listen and Value Others: Take the time to listen to others and appreciate their perspectives.
3. Accept Feedback: Rather than getting defensive, use feedback as an opportunity to grow.

When you embrace humility, you allow yourself to keep learning, growing, and becoming the best version of yourself. It’s a mindset that will serve you well in every area of life.

How to Stay Calm Under Pressure

If you want to achieve anything in life or push yourself in a meaningful way, you are going to face moments of pressure. It’s inevitable. So firstly, accept that these moments will come. Whether it’s meeting a deadline at work, preparing for an exam, or dealing with a tough situation in our personal lives. Feeling stressed is normal, but staying calm in these moments is a skill that can be learned. But how do you stay grounded and focused when things get tough?

The overall approach

The overall approach is to stay focus on solutions and not problems. 

When things get stressful, it’s easy to get caught up in what’s going wrong. But the key to managing pressure is to focus on what you can do, not what’s going wrong. Shift your mindset to think in terms of solutions. Ask yourself, “What can I do right now?” and “How can I move forward?”

Taking responsibility for your situation is important. Instead of waiting for others to step in, take small actions to move things forward. This doesn’t mean you need to do everything alone, but recognizing what you can control gives you a sense of power and helps you stay calm.

It might sound over simplified, and in some ways, it is but your general approach should be simple so it’s easy to follow.  

What to do in the moment?

Here are some strategies you can use to help your strategy when you are in the difficult moment. 

1. Breathe and Center Yourself: Box Breathing

When stress hits, your body will enter “fight or flight” mode. Our heart rate speeds up, muscles tense, and you lose mental clarity. The way to regain control is through box breathing. 

Box breathing is a simple but effective technique to calm your nervous system. Here’s how to do it:

• Inhale: Breathe in slowly for a count of 4.
• Hold: Hold your breath for a count of 4.
• Exhale: Slowly exhale for a count of 4.
• Hold: Hold again for a count of 4.

Repeat this cycle several times. 

Controlling your breathing in this way is a signal to your body that the situation is calm. It then allows your mind to become calm and to bring back your composure. It might sound ridiculous at first, but it actually works. This is because it reduces your body’s stress response. 

The U.S. Navy SEALs are known for using box breathing to stay calm under pressure. This technique helps them regulate their heart rate, stay focused, and make better decisions in high-stress situations. If it works for them on the battlefield, it can certainly work for you when you feel your emotions building up. Give it a try.

2. Break Tasks into Small Steps

Feeling overwhelmed often comes from seeing a task as too big to tackle. Instead of trying to do everything at once, break it into smaller steps. Ask yourself, “What can I do first?”

Make a to-do list of the small steps to be done, prioritize the most important tasks and do them one at a time. This helps you focus on what matters most. Each small task you complete will give you a sense of control and progress.

As the saying goes, "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time." Breaking down the task into bite-sized chunks makes it more realistic and achievable

3. Take a Moment to Reset

In the moment, it might feel like there’s no time to pause but you probably have more time than you think. Taking a short break can help you perform better. Whether you step away for a short walk or go to make a hot drink you briefly reset your mind and regain focus.

You’ve probably heard a smoker say that smoking helps their stress. Well, it’s not the smoking that helps. It’s the brief moment when they step away and reset. They are actually engaging in a form of mindfulness, whether they realize it or not. But a healthier way to have the same affect would be to go and make a cup of tea.

Why mindfulness helps: Mindfulness is about staying present and aware of the current moment. When you practice mindfulness, you reduce anxiety and stress, improve your focus, and make better decisions. It’s a very small taste of how meditation works – for that brief moment you are not focused on your stress, and it allows you to come back stronger.

4. Talk It through

Sometimes, the best way to relieve stress is to talk about it. Share your concerns with someone you trust. Talking about your worries can help you gain perspective and see things more clearly.

It’s amazing how much more clearly you understand an issue after simply explaining it to someone else. This is because your mind must sort your thoughts out to articulate it.

With a very difficult issue, you may become emotional. As you are admitting the issue and no longer denying it. But as your talk it through, you may well naturally understand what you need to do next. Plus, the person you are talking to may offer advice or new insights that you hadn’t considered. Regardless, talking is a healthy way to release stress and gain perspective. 

How to be stressful situations 

There are things you can do in advance of many difficult situations to reduce the stress in the moment and to give yourself the best chance of succeeding.

1. Trust your preparation

By preparing, you set yourself up for success. Preparation is one of the best ways to reduce stress. When you’re well-prepared, you’re less likely to feel overwhelmed or caught off guard. Think of a public speaker who seems calm and confident. They don’t just show up and speak. They spend hours preparing and practicing to ensure they do their best.

By preparing for tough situations, you’re setting yourself up to handle pressure with more ease. You’d trust some who told you they were prepared for a task and if you prepare in advance of a difficult situation, you can trust yourself to. Whether it's a team meeting or a difficult conversation, you will not regret the time spent preparing.

2. Know your purpose and stay motivated

When you’re feeling stressed, it’s easy to forget why you’re doing something. But reconnecting with your deeper purpose can help you stay motivated. Whether it’s a long-term goal or a personal passion, remember why it matters to you.

Ask yourself, “Why is this important to me?” Reconnecting with your purpose gives you the energy and focus to keep going, even when things get tough.

When you remember your "why," it becomes easier to push through difficult moments. Keep your purpose in mind to stay motivated and confident.

Managing Stress is a Skill

The ability to stay calm in stressful situations is one of the most valuable skills you can develop. It’s something that grows with practice. Every time you face pressure, you have an opportunity to build your resilience and strengthen your ability to stay composed.

The more you practice these strategies, the easier it becomes to handle pressure with clarity and confidence.

Stay composed and reap the rewards

As you build resilience to handle challenging situations, you'll not only improve your performance but also gain secondary benefits:

1. Increased reputation and opportunities: Showing control and clear thinking will boost your reputation and create future opportunities.
2. Inspiring others: When people see you handling pressure calmly, they’re inspired to stay calm too, recognizing you as a dependable leader.
3. Shows your strength: Staying calm, even when you're feeling stressed, shows confidence. This can give you an advantage in confrontations or improve your credibility when influencing others. Much like poker players who keep a strong poker face.
4. Boost your self-confidence: Remaining composed in tough situations strengthens your own confidence, proving to yourself that you can handle challenges. Giving you a platform for even greater achievements. 

Conclusion

The overall approach to managing pressure is focusing on solutions, taking responsibility, and taking small actions to move forward. By using strategies like box breathing or breaking tasks into smaller steps as well as preparing, and understanding your purpose, you can stay calm and focused in stressful situations. The ability to handle challenges not only boosts your performance but also enhances your reputation, inspires others, and strengthens your self-confidence. Managing pressure is a skill that can be developed with practice. With time, it becomes easier, and you’ll be better equipped to approach challenges with clarity and confidence.