Humility wins
What’s the story?
A new breed of coaches are making headlines as they swap glory-grabbing for gratitude and humility. This was particularly demonstrated by former Indian Men’s Cricket Team coach Rahul Dravid, who refused to take credit for the team’s success, instead highlighting senior players for their leadership and thanking coaching staff for their support. What does this refreshingly humble approach to coaching mean for team culture and how we understand ‘winning’?
The Team Code Take
Once upon a time José Mourinho walked confidently into his first press conference as the manager of Chelsea Football Club and declared himself ‘the special one’. Whilst Mourinho did deliver unprecedented success for the club back in the early 2000s, the same approach wouldn’t work today. Indeed, he’s recently described himself as ‘the humble one’ as he moves to a different way of coaching.
Why? Because athletes are now looking for more humanity in their coaching.
The days of the shouty, authoritarian coach who demands respect through fear alone are thankfully on the wane. The world of sport has transformed dramatically and with it the qualities we seek in those who guide our athletes.
Coaches now understand that players respect humility. After winning the championship last season, Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was asked what he takes credit for. His answer says everything about modern leadership in sport: “I stayed out of the way.”
Skills such as empathy, vulnerability and humility sit at the heart of modern coaching excellence. When a coach demonstrates genuine humility, they create space for athletes to grow, and own their development. Rather than positioning themselves as the all-knowing guru, the humble coach acknowledges their limitations and remains perpetually curious – constantly seeking to improve their own knowledge and approach.
Elite sporting organisations increasingly recognise that empathy and humility aren't soft skills – they're competitive advantages. When coaches set aside ego, they access collective intelligence, fostering environments where team members support each other's growth rather than competing for the coach's approval or bending to their every will.
Successful teams deliberately create a culture where players can shape what it means to belong themselves, with senior players especially taking a lead role. The dogmatic leadership style of yesteryear no longer works with the modern athlete who is looking for genuine connection, a sense of purpose and the opportunity to contribute to something bigger than themselves.
While a coach has a unique perspective on the team - seeing the bigger picture and understanding where and what changes need to be made - it is increasingly important for them to recognise that players create the culture and set the standards within the team.
The humble coach understands something profound: their legacy isn't measured in trophies alone, but in the character they help develop. By demonstrating humility, they teach athletes that true strength comes not from dominating others, but from the courage to continuously evolve, listen, and serve something greater than themselves.
Three actions
As a coach, focus on the wellbeing and workload of your players so they are free to focus on performance.
Identify and support leadership development within the team and be open to continuous learning.
Be vocal in your praise and recognition of the players and support team.