Humility Is the Secret Ingredient of Every Great Team

Lessons from Leadership, Service, and the Book of James

If collaboration is built before the team meets, and trust is built in the field…

Then humility is what holds it all together.

Without humility, teams fracture.

Ego creeps in. Listening stops. People protect their space instead of serving the mission.

I’ve seen it in every environment I’ve been part of — and I’ve learned this lesson the hard way.

Humility Was Expected, Not Praised, in the Military

In the military — especially in Special Operations — humility isn’t something you talk about.

It’s something that’s expected.

The mission is always bigger than the individual.

No one cares how talented you are if you can’t work as part of the team. And no one lasts long if they make it about themselves.

You learn quickly that:

• Rank doesn’t excuse poor behavior

• Skill doesn’t replace discipline

• Confidence without humility is dangerous

The strongest leaders I served with weren’t loud.

They were steady.

They listened more than they talked. They took responsibility when things went wrong. They gave credit away and absorbed blame.

And because of that, people followed them — not because they had to, but because they trusted them.

Humility wasn’t weakness.

It was strength under control.

Mission Work Has No Patience for Ego

Later, serving in nonprofit medical missions in Central America, humility became even more obvious.

When you’re serving people who are hurting, struggling, or simply trying to survive, ego has no place.

Nobody cares about your title.

Nobody is impressed by credentials.

What matters is whether you’re willing to serve.

The teams that worked best weren’t the ones with the most experience.

They were the ones who were willing to step in, do whatever was needed, and support each other without hesitation.

In those moments, humility becomes practical:

Carry the supplies. Clean up afterward. Take the less visible role. Help without being asked.

That kind of humility builds trust fast — and it builds strong teams.

In Schools, Ego Is Subtle but Costly

Over more than 20 years as a CFO and COO in independent nonprofit schools, I’ve learned that ego doesn’t always show up loudly.

Sometimes it’s subtle.

It looks like:

• Defending a department instead of serving the school

• Holding information instead of sharing it

• Needing to be right instead of seeking what’s best

• Protecting position instead of building people

And when humility is missing, collaboration slows down.

People stop asking questions. Meetings become guarded. Innovation stalls. The culture feels heavy.

But when leaders model humility?

Everything changes.

People speak up. Teams problem-solve together. Mistakes become learning moments. The mission stays front and center.

Humility creates space for others to contribute.

James Is Clear: Humility Is Non-Negotiable

The Book of James doesn’t soften the message when it comes to humility.

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”— James 4:6

That verse has followed me for years.

Not because it’s poetic — but because it’s true.

Pride creates resistance.

Humility creates grace.

James reminds us that humility isn’t about thinking less of yourself.

It’s about thinking less about yourself.

When leaders submit their ego, teams grow stronger.

When teams choose humility, collaboration becomes natural.

Humility Makes Room for Trust and Collaboration

Here’s what I’ve learned across every setting:

Humility is what allows trust to grow.

You can’t build trust if you’re always defending yourself.

You can’t collaborate if you’re always competing.

And you can’t lead well if you’re unwilling to listen.

The strongest teams I’ve been part of weren’t made up of perfect people.

They were made up of humble ones.

People who were confident enough to admit mistakes. Secure enough to share credit. Grounded enough to serve others.

The Lesson

Humility isn’t a personality trait.

It’s a daily choice.

A choice to:

• Listen before speaking

• Serve before leading

• Learn before defending

• Put the mission above personal pride

That choice, repeated over time, shapes culture.

And culture determines whether teams merely function — or truly flourish.

A Closing Challenge

If you want to strengthen collaboration on your team, start with this:

Ask yourself:

• Where might my ego be getting in the way?

• Am I more focused on being right or being helpful?

• Do people feel safe bringing ideas and concerns to me?

• Am I creating space for others to lead?

Because humility isn’t just a spiritual value.

It’s a leadership discipline.