Dickson defines humility as "the noble choice to forgo your status, deploy your resources or use your influence for the good of others before yourself," such that a "humble person is marked by a willingness to hold power in service of others." (p. 24). By this definition you can see that humility starts from a position of dignity, strength, and a healthy sense of my own worth and abilities. Unlike humiliation, which can be thrust upon me by others, humility is a choice I make willingly. And humility is social, more about how I treat others than about how I think of myself. Bob Sutton has written that the best test of a person’s character is how he or she treats those with less power. Dickson argues that humility is important for leadership because humility is persuasive. Humility unlocks the door to referent power. "We are more attracted to the great who are humble than to the great who know it and want everyone else to know it as well." (p. 69). He quotes Aristotle’s belief that character is the controlling factor in persuasion: "We believe good-hearted people to a greater extent and more quickly than we do others on all subjects in general and completely so in cases where there is not exact knowledge but room for doubt." (p. 139). We trust the humble more than the proud to act in our best interest. Dickson also argues that humility is generative, a powerful key to learning and growth. Pride is the engine of mediocrity because the proud think they have "arrived" and have nothing left to learn, certainly not from you and me. ~ Bret L. Simmons at Amazon.com

Table of Contents

• • ACKNOWLEDGMENTS   9
  • INTRODUCTION Humility and How I Achieved It   11
  • CHAPTER 1 Thesis: What Is Humility and Why does It Matter   15
  • CHAPTER 2 Leadership: What It Is and How Humility Fits In   31
  • CHAPTER 3 common Sense: The Logic of Humility   49
  • CHAPTER 4 Aesthetics: How the Humble Are Beautiful   67
  • CHAPTER 5 Philotimia: Why the Ancient World Didn’t Like Humility   83
  • CHAPTER 6 Cruciform: How a Jew from Nazareth Redefined Greatness   97
  • CHAPTER 7 Growth: Why Humility Generates Abilities   113
  • CHAPTER 8 Persuasion: How Character Determines Influence   133
  • CHAPTER 9 Inspiration: How Humility Lifts Those around Us   149
  • CHAPTER 10 Harmony: Why Humility Is Better Than "Tolerance"   161
  • CHAPTER 11 Steps: How It’s Possible to Become (More) Humble   171
  • BIBLIOGRAPHY   185
  • Notes   189