Hi Reader

Sunday night at Bondi Beach: this is what hate and narcissism look like at their absolute worst. The perpetrators demonstrated the darkest edge of narcissism: a complete absence of empathy, a delusional sense of righteousness, and the belief that their ideology justified unspeakable violence.

Can we solve extremism through a newsletter? No. Obviously not. (If only.) But we can each play a small part in building a more humble, empathetic world – and that feels like something worth doing right now.

So in the spirit of One Percent Better, here are 10 evidence-based and practical ways to cultivate humility in your daily life - small shifts that, collectively, can make a meaningful difference:

1. When offering a suggestion, mention at least one downside. It shows you don't think you have all the answers and invites actual discussion instead of performative agreement.
2. Plan projects backwards. Start with the deadline, then work in reverse to set milestones. Feeling constantly rushed makes people think they deserve special treatment.
3. Reward those who reduce other people's workload. Make helpful behaviour visible by recognising it in your team.
4. Protect uninterrupted work time. Fewer interruptions mean people are less defensive when someone finally does need their attention.
5. Make it normal to learn from failure. Have everyone share one lesson a month from something that didn't work.
6. Help people choose one small weekly habit they could keep up forever. Steady progress towards meaningful goals builds confidence without arrogance.
7. Show you don't approve of status-obsessed behaviour. What leaders ignore spreads – so don't let it slide in conversations, even casual ones.
8. When disagreeing, show warmth quickly. A smile or genuine interest keeps the conversation friendly and productive. (And prevents that unhelpful defensive spiral we've all experienced.)
9. Share what you're personally trying to improve and ask your team for advice. Nothing builds humility faster than a leader who's still learning.
10. Follow up on people's comments the next day. Referring back to something someone said yesterday shows you were genuinely listening, not just waiting for your turn to talk.

Humility grows through small, repeatable behaviours. And when it does, a lot of damage never gets the chance to start.

Cheers

Amantha

P.S. Every single one of these tips has academic research behind it. If you want references, just reply and let me know what I can send you.

P.P.S. If you want to promote more humility in your organisation in 2026, let me know. We would love to help.

P.P.S. Want to discover more science-backed habits for 2026? I’m running a free virtual masterclass on Wednesday 17 December, 12–1 p.m. AEDT: 10 Health Habits That Will Transform Your 2026 (backed by science, not influencers). You'll walk away with 10 specific, science-backed health habits (with the actual research behind them, because I obviously can't help myself). Think: how to sleep better, move better, and eat better.

​Register here.​ (Can’t make it live? Register anyway and you’ll get the full recording after the event.)

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