Athletes enjoy celebrating success at the highest level of sport. After all, it's a game.
Humility isn't the first emotion conjured by basketball. More often we see chest thumping bravado in a player who delivers a thundering dunk or otherworldly blocked shot. We recognize that successful athletes need confidence and positive self-talk. Does humility have any value for the contemporary athlete?
We recently celebrated the life and mourned the passing of Muhammad Ali. Hubris, not humility, was central to Ali's playbook. Ali's reputation went untarnished by his immodesty.
Because virtually all athletes experience defeat, humility can help athletes cope with defeat and disappointment. If your ego depends entirely on winning, loss can exact a terrible toll. Humility can help keep both success and failure in perspective. As coaches, we can teach our athletes to be humble in victory and gracious in defeat.
Humility may help facilitate accountability. The humble athlete is also less likely to encourage envy and selfishness among teammates. We can teach athletes who interact with the media to deflect credit to the team and to other teammates.
Don Meyer and his disciples preached core values of passion, unity, servant leadership, thankfulness, and humility. Coach Dick Bennett handed out laminated sheets with these core values.
Values like humility provide a 'fall back' position when things don't go as well as desired.
It's not incongruous to develop both confidence and humility in our players. "Confidence comes from proven success" says Bill Parcells. Players with solid work habits and preparation can confidently take ownership of results - positive or negative.
I think that Tim McGraw has it right. Humble players are viewed more favorably by teammates and the public.
The Harvard Business Review discusses developing humility in leaders. Many transfer to athletics. "Humility is not hospitality, courtesy, or a kind and friendly demeanor. Humility has nothing to do with being meek, weak, or indecisive. Perhaps more surprising, it does not entail shunning publicity."
- Know what you don’t know.
- Resist falling for your own publicity.
- Never underestimate the competition.
- Embrace and promote a spirit of service.
- Listen, even (no, especially) to the weird ideas.
- Be passionately curious.
I believe that humility implies willing acceptance of our own ignorance and fallibility and can encourage us to learn more, do more, and become more.