Sermon Illustrations
Corporate America's New Trend: Humility
According The Wall Street Journal, there's a new fad among top-level business executives—it's called humility. The article titled "The Case for Humble Executives" explores the business benefits of this once-unpopular leadership virtue. The article notes:
Among executives, humility "is the flavor du jour," says Fred Hassan, a former CEO of Schering-Plough Corp. and author of a book on leadership. Companies increasingly prize humble leaders because they listen well, admit mistakes and share the limelight, recruiters and coaches say. "The servant leadership model promotes collaboration," says Dale E. Jones, chief executive of recruiters Diversified Search Inc.
Of course there's one major problem with humble pie—you have to actually become humble. Apparently fakes abound—like the former lieutenant of Krispy Kreme (as in donuts). According to one observer, "He took the limelight. He didn't understand the humility part [of acting humble]." After everyone discovered he was merely faking humility to get ahead in business, the Krispy Kreme board fired him. As one business expert noted, "If you have to act humble, it won't work. You either are or you're not."
Possible Preaching Angles: Christmas; Incarnation—When Christ came to earth, he wasn't just acting humble. He became truly humble for our sakes.