From Timid to Trusted: Humble Leadership
I am reading J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit right now and one of my favorite parts of the story is how Bilbo Baggins evolved from a humble hobbit into a brave and resourceful figure who takes on leadership qualities, especially as he led and assisted the dwarves during their quest to save Middle-earth. His growth into a leadership role is a significant part of his character development in the narrative. I love how Tolkien made Bilbo a humble leader.
Bilbo’s humbleness plays a significant role because it reflected his genuine character and growth throughout the story. His humility allowed him to stay grounded despite his unexpected heroism, making him approachable and relatable. It also enabled him to recognize his limitations, seek help when needed, and remain open to new ideas and challenges.
Moreover, his humility fostered trust and camaraderie among the company of dwarves and other characters, which was essential for their collective success. Ultimately, Bilbo’s humbleness highlighted that true leadership and heroism often stem from modesty, kindness, and a willingness to learn.
These qualities inspire others and lead to meaningful personal growth. One of my favorite quotes in the book is, “Already they had come to respect little Bilbo. Now he had become the real leader in their adventure. He had begun to have ideas and plans of his own” (The Hobbit, p. 259). Wouldn’t we all love to have this said of us?
This highlights the importance of humility and perseverance. Bilbo started as a humble hobbit but grew through his experiences. His journey, as created by Tolkien, showed that leadership and confidence can develop in unexpected ways, even in unlikely individuals. I really love that because, remember, I believe everyone is a leader. It also emphasized the power of cleverness, bravery, and taking initiative, as Bilbo’s ideas and plans proved crucial to the success of the adventure.
A Might Be
In the book Perelandra by C.S. Lewis, the phrase “A might be” really intrigued me. The protagonist in the book, Elwin Ransom, represented the human perspective and was referring to the concept of potentiality or what could possibly be. It reflected the idea that everything in existence has the potential to become something else or to undergo change. It suggests that there are endless possibilities and potential outcomes in the universe.
I do believe we have endless possibilities and potential. As humans, it is our role and responsibility to explore and discover those possibilities and potential outcomes. We have the ability to think, reason, and make choices, which gives us the power to help shape all that goes on around us. It is up to us to use our potential wisely and make decisions that not only benefit ourselves but also contribute to the greater good of humanity and the universe as a whole. What might be?
Mixed Humanity
There is no ideal person or leader. Each of us has a soul, emotions, a destiny, feelings, personality, and style. We are actually very powerful algorithmic and data-fed machines. As biological humans we need to take time to think, create, and develop our mixed humanity. In Volume Two of the Autobiography of Mark Twain, Twain discussed “observing mixed humanity.” Twain observed how different each and every one of us is. Next time you are in a group take a moment and just observe each person and their interactions – it’s amazing.
This mix of humanity is such a powerful thing. Those leaders that I put in the great column learned their traits from previous leaders who modeled for them. We then continue to pass along their wisdom to the next aspiring generation of leaders, entry-level employee, apprentice, or intern. Make no mistake, someone is observing us and our role in humanity. If we humble ourselves and work by pulling each other across the finish line together, then I believe our significance will multiply tenfold.
Byron's Babbles 
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