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What is humility with examples

55 replies

Baihai18o · 07/10/2024 19:52

I was told off by boss for not having humility and would like to fix this to get on better. Can you please tell me what exactly is humility by your understanding with examples please. Yes I have seen it in the dictionary but don’t know how to put into practice. I must not lose my job. Thanks in advance

OP posts:
DucklingSwimmingInstructress · 08/10/2024 20:48

Afriendwithbreastsandalltherest · 08/10/2024 17:01

Think how you like people to speak to you. What is your first language? If you're Dutch we simply won't be able to help you, it's a character trait for your nation.

Not far off chuckling

PixiePirate · 08/10/2024 20:54

I think it could be fixed with some key phrases that you could use as appropriate when interacting with customers and colleagues. “I understand”, “you’re very welcome”, “would you mind”, “let me know if I can help at all” etc. It sounds like it could be cultural/language barrier.

JanFebAndOnwards · 09/10/2024 19:28

With your latest post I think you need to stop thinking about promotion for the moment at all. Actually be humble for a while

MargaretThursday · 09/10/2024 20:19

I think if you want to be considered for promotion, and your manager has said you're not ready because you need to learn some humility, then going and asking about promotion will illustrate their point very well!

If you're asking about promotion, then it says you think you're ready. They've told you they don't think you are.

I'd go to the manager, and not mention promotion at all. Say you've been thinking about what they said, and you're sorry if you have not come across well to clients. Ask if they can give you specific examples so you can work how you can do it better.
Perhaps ask them to observe an interaction and ask them to comment afterwards.
And (this is quite important) if they give comments, then don't justify or argue back.
Ask them how it would be better and take those comments and use them to make your own.
Keep asking for feedback, and keep adjusting depending on that feedback.

That will show humility, in that you are listening and trying to improve.

You want to avoid implying that you think you are the best/better. I know someone that will start a conversation by telling you that they are the best at whatever they're talking about even when they're clearly not. They're quite capable of standing there without a blush saying "and I know that I can do this better than anyone else here, because I'm superb at it" having read the first chapter of a book about it, and standing next to the person that invented the procedure and wrote the book!
The problem is when they do that in front of clients, often the client will accept their own valuation of themselves and expect a far higher output/result than they are capable of delivering. So the client is disappointed and reviews it poorly. Or someone else has to step in a clear up the mess. Whereas if they had been honest about it in the first place, expectations are not raised beyond what is possible to deliver.
That's why it can be important not to over sell yourself.

MichaelAndEagle · 09/10/2024 20:31

Baihai18o · 08/10/2024 19:05

Thanks all
Much appreciated

can anyone give insight how to hold a conversation about a possible promotion but how to do that with humility so as not to cause offence and maximise chances of success

thanks again

Well I would probably leave the promotion out of the conversation because for some reason in Britain we are supposed to disguise our ambition!!

But maybe say you've taken time to reflect on the feedback, you're sorry you haven't been delivering great customer service and you'd appreciate some support to improve in the areas suggested.
Perhaps ask to shadow or for some coaching focused on customer service.
But basically you have to sound like you just want to do a great job and if you got promotion well wouldn't that just be a lovely surprise and unexpected icing on the cake!!

Also I think its even worse for British women to show ambition. I'm sorry OP it is unfortunately the way we are...

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