Amer Kaissi - Humbitious: The Power of Low-Ego, High-Drive Leadership

This book makes a compelling case that you dont need a big ego to do great things. Amer Kaissi demonstrates that humility isnt a sign of weaknessits a source of strength for leaders.

Adam Grant #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the TED podcast WorkLife

How can leaders display humility while remaining ambitious? Amer Kaissi reveals the fascinating answers in this entertaining and evidence-based book.

Dr. Tasha Eurich organizational psychologist and New York Times bestselling author of Insight and Bankable Leadership.

Too often, we underestimate the enormous strength it takes to practice skills like kindness and humility. With Humbitious, Amer Kaissi has exposed humility not just as a virtue worth striving for, but also as a valuable tool for success. I highly recommend this book for readers at any stage of their leadership journey.

Daniel Lubetzky founder of KIND Snacks

An entertaining and brilliantly compelling argument for humble honesty. In an era when brash celebrity is often marketed as leadership, Amer Kaissi deftly weaves research and the experiences of leaderssome impressive and some notinto a convincing case that humility unlocks our potential.

gen. Stanley McChrystal U.S. Army (Ret.), Joint Special Operations Command

In a world where leadership models are changing, Amer Kaissis book clarifies the notion that effective leaders succeed the most when they relate and connect to the people around them. Kaissi shatters the myths about what humility really means, and shows us that it is not weakness, but actually requires inner confidence and a strength of character many dont possess. He demonstrates that arrogance and dictatorship may help in the very short term, but rarely lead to sustainable, impactful success. Read this book to ask yourself the tough questions and get inspired to adopt a new model of leadership success.

Maria Ross brand strategist, speaker, and author of The Empathy Edge

In masterful fashion, Kaissi brings humility to life. Through inspiring stories and clear summaries of academic research, Humbitious illuminates why humility is a vital strength for anyone wanting to make a positive impact. A must-read for anyone who wants to elevate their leadership potential and effectiveness.

Dr. Brad Owens associate professor, Marriott School of Management, Brigham Young University, and one of the worlds foremost experts on humble leadership

For those who often hear the buzzword humility but wonder what it really means and whether it works, Amer Kaissis Humbitious is a must-read. Not just another persons opinion or preaching of humility, his book is based on decades of cumulative scientific evidence on the effectiveness of humility in improving individual performance and relationships with others, and in transforming teams and organizations.

Dr. Amy Ou associate professor, humility researcher, Department of Management and Marketing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

D aniela was a rising star at a capital management firm. Everyone in the company agreed she would be a senior leader one day... if she could learn to play nice with others in the sandbox.

Her 360-degree feedback report was full of phrases like, Daniela is brilliant but she has sharp elbows, and She has to get better with people if she wants to advance. I was brought in as her executive coach to help build her people skills.

Daniela knew she was impatient. She told me she had never suffered fools gladly and didnt mind if people read her that way.

During our coaching, she determinedly experimented with new behaviors and new thoughts that strengthened her awareness of her impact on others. More than once she reported back to me that her biggest take-away was this: in order to consider others more often, she would need to think of herself as being of service. Intellectually she understood that, were she able to consider others more, she would most likely achieve her ambitions sooner. But in practice it was hard.

A quite different leader was Anish.

Anish was a division president for a national homebuilder. His coaching was triggered because people wanted him to move faster. His feedback report was full of phrases like, Hes the most democratic leader Ive ever worked for. Great, but please, a little less democracy and a little more action, and Hes got plenty of good will in the bank. He should trade on that and get stuff done.

He was grateful for the coaching. He had foreseen that, to be successful as a president, he would need to gain mastery over his reliance on humility and gain more skills in achievement. This was not completely new in his life. He told me his friends and family joked that he was like Minnesota nice on steroids.

During his coaching, Anish found he was actually quite good at getting stuff done. When exerting that part of himself, he found that it didnt cause conflict; rather, people were appreciative. They liked him as much as ever. He began to inhabit the role of president in a way that felt integrated and authentic.

It has now been more than a decade since I coached Daniela and Anish. Ive stayed in contact with them and have watched their stories evolve. Theyre both quite happy.

Anish continued his success as a division president. He learned to draw as often on his reservoir of achievement skills as he did on his natural humility. Then new owners took over. He discovered, sadly, that the new owners did not value humility. In less than a year, Anish left the company and found a new position where he was happier.

Daniela built team after team at her company. All delivered high performance. Her teams swelled into a department, then into a division. To this day, that division is hers to run. Go to the companys website and youll see her pictured as one of the senior leaders. She loves her career.

Daniela is often invited to speak on panels. She talks openly about herself, admitting shed never have achieved her goals if she hadnt toned down her ambition and learned some humility. Remembering the woman who didnt suffer fools gladly, she laughs, saying, Now Im just one of the fools!

She and Anish consciously chose to develop and balance two facets of themselves that are within us all: humility and ambition. The balance has made them each stand out. They both have devoted followers.

When I first read Humbitious, I was struck by two thoughts.

First, I thought of Daniela and Anish. I wished Id had the book when I was coaching them. Amer shares compelling research, making a clear case that leaders who are able to balance humility and ambition achieve higher results. Had Daniela and Anish been able to read Humbitious, it wouldve accelerated their paths to success.

Second, I thought of you, the current and rising leaders who search for your own balance between humility and ambition. Amers stories and research will awaken a path in you that will guide you towards self-awareness, open-mindedness, and appreciation. Without the first, leaders cannot experience growth. Without the second, they cannot gain wisdom. Without the third, they cannot generate devotion. Humbitious will help you develop all three.

This is a path of many riches. Enjoy the journey.

Tom Henschel

Tom Henschel is one of Americas leading executive coaches. He runs the development firm Essential Communications. For more than a decade he has hosted