Earlier this year, Forbes magazine published an article that highlighted the leadership style of Dwight D. Eisenhower, who led the Allied forces to victory in World War II and served two terms as President of the United States. He was known for his humility. “Eisenhower’s humility was evident even in small moments. During World War II, upon discovering that a luxurious villa had been set aside as his quarters, he famously objected, “This is supposed to be a rest center—for combat men—not a playground for the Brass.” For Ike, leadership was about serving others, not elevating oneself. This ethos extended to his behavior: he was approachable, collaborative, and unafraid to admit what he didn’t know. As he once wrote, “Always try to associate yourself with and learn as much as you can from those who know more than you do, who do better than you, who see more clearly than you.”
They went on to share some of the research on business leaders: “Modern research validates what Eisenhower intuitively knew: humility is a game-changer for leaders. Professor Jeffrey A. Chandler and several colleagues conducted a meta-analysis of 212 published studies. They found, Chandler told me that, “some of the strongest effects of humble leadership are improving satisfaction and performance among their followers.” Additionally, they found that humble leaders empower their teams, foster collaboration, and create environments where employees feel valued.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/martingutmann/2025/02/03/why-humble-leadership-is-a-superpower-now-more-than-ever/