Leading with Humility – A Core Enabler of Operational Excellence

Modern culture often portrays leaders as larger-than-life figures, charismatic personalities, social media influencers, bestselling authors or keynote speakers. Leadership is sometimes viewed as a performance, with the leader positioned as the hero at the centre of the story.

In reality, the behaviours that create lasting organisational performance look very different.Within the Shingo Model, the principle of Lead with Humility is a foundational cultural enabler. It is not soft or optional, it is essential for building an environment where people continuously learn, improve and contribute to long-term success.

What It Really Means to Lead with Humility

Leading with humility does not mean lacking confidence or authority. It means recognising that:

• Leaders do not have all the answers

• People closest to the work often understand problems best

• Listening is more powerful than directing

• Mistakes are opportunities for learning

• Collaboration produces stronger outcomes than command-and-control

Humble leaders create psychological safety, encourage transparency and seek input from all levels. They address problems without blame, focus on improving the process and involve their teams in solving challenges.

Why Humility Is a Principle, Not a Personality Trait

Within the Shingo Model, “Lead with Humility” is classed as a principle because it is:

• Universal – effective in every culture and every industry

• Timeless – relevant regardless of trends, personalities or leadership fashions

• Consequential – humility directly influences trust, engagement and improvement

When leaders adopt this principle, teams feel valued and respected. They are far more likely to:

• Surface problems early

• Highlight risks

• Challenge assumptions

• Suggest improvements

• Participate in meaningful problem solving

This behaviour is essential for operational excellence and sustained productivity.

Evidence for Humble Leadership

Research into high-performing organisations consistently shows the power of humility in leadership.Jim Collins’ widely respected Good to Great study found that all the “great” companies were led by individuals he described as Level 5 Leaders — leaders who combined fierce professional will with personal humility. These leaders channelled ambition into their organisation rather than themselves and focused relentlessly on long-term success.

Other respected leadership frameworks reinforce this principle, including:

• Servant Leadership – prioritising the growth and wellbeing of others

• Mindful Leadership – being present, intentional and aware

• Humble Enquiry – asking questions with genuine curiosity

• Growth Mindset – believing capability develops through effort and learning

These approaches all strengthen the same behaviours: listening deeply, empowering others, learning continuously and putting the organisation’s purpose ahead of personal ego.

Why Humility Strengthens Operational Excellence

Leading with humility creates the cultural conditions needed for sustained improvement:

• Better decision-making, because leaders seek insight from those closest to the work

• Stronger engagement, because people feel trusted and heard

• Faster problem resolution, because issues are surfaced earlier

• Improved collaboration, reducing silos and promoting alignment

• Greater accountability, because leaders role-model the behaviours they expect

Humility unlocks contribution. Contribution unlocks improvement. Improvement unlocks performance.

How Manufacturers Network Supports Humble Leadership

At the Manufacturers Network, the principle Lead with Humility shapes everything we do. Our training programmes, coaching models and on-site support all reinforce leadership behaviours that:

• Build trust

• Strengthen collaboration

• Encourage reflection

• Improve decision quality

• Create the conditions for high performance

We help leaders develop practical routines and habits that make humility visible, consistent and impactful in their daily work.

Conclusion

Humility is not a weakness, it is a strength that empowers others, accelerates improvement and builds resilient organisations. In a world that often celebrates ego and personality, humble leadership stands out for one simple reason: it works.

When leaders listen, learn and lead with humility, people contribute more, improvement accelerates and Operational Excellence becomes achievable and sustainable.

If you’d like support developing the leadership behaviours that drive Operational Excellence, we’re here to help.