How Intellectual Humility Can Make You a Better Leader

You don’t need to have all the answers

You don’t need to have all the answers to lead.

Our ignorance is invisible to us, not to others.

We tend to overestimate how much we know — especially when it comes to something close to our reputation. We don’t make wrong decisions because of a lack of facts but of self-awareness.

Intellectual humility involves recognizing that our beliefs or opinions can be incorrect. Humility is a powerful leadership trait — research shows that humble leaders inspire close teamwork, rapid learning, and high performance.

So, why do we still support and admire arrogant leaders?

The Importance of Being Wise

When we celebrate leaders only for their intellectual brilliance, we can also be promoting arrogance and overconfidence. Being smart is not enough. Leaders should not be blinded by their ego — they must be wise. As Socrates wrote, “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”

Most leaders operate from a position of moral superiority — they think their opinions matter more than their subordinates’…