Lead with Humility

CHAPTER 2

Smell Like Your Flock

One of the most oft-quoted Francisisms is his directive to “smell like your flock,” which means immersing yourself deeply in whatever group you lead, or aspire to lead, and in a meaningful way. Like so many other things, this leadership principle has deep roots in his career. To understand its evolution, let’s go back to the time Bergoglio became known as the “Bishop of the Slums.”

THE BISHOP OF THE SLUMS

When Bergoglio was “made an assistant bishop, back in the city of his birth,” talented Francis biographer Paul Vallely explains, “an extraordinary journey had begun. It was to transform Jorge Mario Bergoglio into ...