September 22, 2025

My dear friend Cyndi Lesher once said something that has always stuck with me: “We’re all simply human.”

Here’s how we acknowledge and accept our humanness.

The first, and most important step, in acknowledging your humanness, is developing self-awareness. You must know who you are.

The beginning of the process of being someone who can add value to others, self-awareness is key: finding and knowing ourselves. Self-awareness begins with understanding our strengths, values, and everything in between. Seeing yourself clearly also requires recognizing how you affect the people around you.

Research suggests that we are more confident and creative when we see ourselves clearly. We make sounder decisions, build stronger relationships, and communicate more effectively. In other words, self-awareness enhances the qualities and abilities we need to lead on the high road.

Laughter is also a significant factor. When you don’t see yourself as perfect, it becomes easy to get over yourself and laugh at yourself. Being so comfortable and confident that you can laugh at yourself builds trust with a team—leaders with the magical combination of confidence and awareness bond more tightly with those around them.

Our humanness is tethered to developing confident humility. When you do, you will be in a position to be a high-road leader who treats people well and accomplishes much. Confidence and humility are often seen as opposites. But if you reflect on the leaders you admire most, chances are they embody both qualities in tandem.

A learning culture establishes confidence through humility development. When an environment is focused on competition, winning becomes paramount, and individuals are reluctant to admit fault or show weakness. In contrast, an environment that values learning invites people to acknowledge what they don’t know, test ideas, challenge assumptions, and make mistakes. Here are the characteristics of a positive learning environment:

• Others are ahead of us.

• We are continually challenged.

• Our focus is forward.

• The atmosphere is affirming.

• We are out of our comfort zone.

• We wake up excited.

• Failure is not our enemy.

• Everyone is growing.

• We desire change.

• Growth is expected.

Whenever possible, foster a positive growth environment, starting in your home. Interestingly, accepting our humanness and possessing humble confidence do nothing to diminish our leadership ability. We naturally gravitate to confident leaders because confidence is contagious and helps us believe that great things are in store.

Here’s the impact: When we believe the best about people and give them our best, it brings out their best.

Intentionally Own It! What personalized growth does this message encourage me to pursue, and why does it matter? When will I take action, and what value will it add to my life and others?