Apparently self-esteem isn't all it's cracked up to be. Duh. Here's a link to the article Randy writes about below.
Finally!! A major study by an expert in self esteem commissioned by the American Psychological Society to study the benefits of self-esteem, and the finding is “disappointing.” Professor Roy F. Baumeister of Florida State writes in the Tuesday Opinion Section of the Los Angeles Times:1. Does not produce better grades
2. Does not produce better work habits or quality
3. Does not result in more friends or better relationships
4. Does not produce better leaders
5. Does not keep people from becoming bullies
6. Does not keep people from cheating, stealing or experimenting with sex or drugs
Anyone who's ever been a kid can tell you that the biggest liars, cheats, and bullies also had the highest self-esteem. So why do people praise self-esteem? Probably because people with it, in heaping quantities, rate themselves as doing better than perhaps they actually are. From Dr. Baumeister's article:
Self-esteem doesn't make adults perform better at their jobs either. Sure, people with high self-esteem rate their own performance better — even declaring themselves smarter and more attractive than their low self-esteem peers — but neither objective tests nor impartial raters can detect any difference in the quality of work.Likewise, people with high self-esteem think they make better impressions, have stronger friendships and have better romantic lives than other people, but the data don't support their self-flattering views. If anything, people who love themselves too much sometimes annoy other people by their defensive or know-it-all attitudes. Self-esteem doesn't predict who will make a good leader, and some work (including that of psychologist Robert Hogan writing in the Harvard Business Review) has found humility rather than self-esteem to be a key trait of successful leaders.
Gosh, who would've guessed it?
Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.Proverbs 15:33
The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.Proverbs 18:12
Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.Proverbs 22:4
Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
And those are just "humility"; do a search on "humble" for further insight and wisdom.
The sillies part of the "self esteem" kick is how much faith people put in it simply because it's called "self-esteem." Substitute a less flattering synonym like "hubris," and suddenly everyone agrees that of course that doesn't cause better grades, stronger friendships, etc.
Although I have to quibble with one part, namely leadership. I don't think there can be any real doubt that people who think they're the bomb are more likely to lead than people who exhibit self-doubt, even though the doubt may be well founded. Misplaced self-esteem may mean that you should lead, and that others shouldn't follow you if you do, but on both counts there's a substantial disconnect between what one should do and what one does.
X: There's a difference between humility and self-doubt, I think.
Perhaps, but they're closely related. An appropriately humble person will frequently question his own actions, while an arrogant person will see no need to.
I explain the origin of the emphasis on self-esteem in education in my little blog articles, "The Reign of Subjectivity," here:
http://shroudedindoubt.typepad.com/bag_of_worms_yet_words/2004/10/the_reign_of_su.html
Leaders require followers. People who are unable to recognize their flaws are not likely to be followed. Even if they are, the leader who doesn't know he has missing parts, won't seek appropriate assistants to fill in those missing parts.
This is not to say that there aren't some exceptions where the leaders are so brilliant and charismatic that they overcome their lack of humility. On the whole, leadership starts with knowing oneself, the good and the bad.
Michael Williams quoting the Bible on humility.
That's funny. I wonder if he even GETS how ironic that is.
HI: Nope, I don't get it! Since you're anonymous, I also don't know who you are or what basis you have for your implication.