Leadership…what is it? I like the quote from Ronald Reagan, “The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one who gets the people to do the greatest things.” The reality is, defining leadership is a bit like trying to grab hold of a cloud. You know it is there, it is visible, it appears to be tangible, but you cannot simply clasp it in your hands.
Often leadership is something more about a person’s way of living…pursuit of integrity, character, being a positive example, along with a myriad of outward expressions. I would purpose part of leadership is a culmination of outward expressions of inward attitudes which influence those around us.
One key outward expression of leadership would be “Servanthood”. Merriam-Webster defines servant as, “one who serves others”. Many of us have read or heard about the Battle of Thermopylae. King Leonidas was a man over 60 years old, who still lived by the Spartan way of life. I suggest reading, “Gates of Fire” by Steven Pressfield to get a bit more insight into King Leonidas. This king did his leading from the front. He did not look at his role of being king as a reason to stay behind and command his men from a thrown or castle. He provided direction and oversight to the training and preparations needed for these elite warriors. He instilled self-discipline to ensure he was up for the battles within which he would be called to lead. King Leonidas served shoulder to shoulder with the men he sent into battle.
Servanthood is a high calling. There are a lot of demands and pressures in willingly serving others. It can be lonely, agonizing, thankless, and often emotionally painful when you as a leader are focused on serving those in your care. Without understanding and living in the struggles which com from servanthood in leadership you will fail to see the absolute joy, thrill, excitement, and exhilaration which comes from seeing the success and growth of those in your care.
In terms of servanthood leadership, one must seek to be the embodiment of certain key characteristics. These listed below are each a unique outward manifestation of inward attitudes and desires.
Put Others Ahead of your Own Agenda. Do we know those in our care well enough to understand their true needs? Do we make ourselves available to help others even while we have the demands of our own tasks? Are we seeking to understand the desires and needs of those in our care are important to us?
Possess the Confidence to Serve. Are we treating others with the respect and honor they have earned through their own dedication to trade craft? Do we give the power of decision making to others who need it for their growth?
Initiating Service to Others. Are we looking for areas where there is a need? When we see these needs, are we getting to work in contributing a solution? In doing these things are we abstaining from drawing attention to ourselves?
Not Being, “Position Conscious”. When we get the wanted job title, pay raise, corner office, or any other outward express of being in authority are we still willing to lead from the front? Leading from the front is not someone in the “C-Suite” telling front-line people how to do their job (aka micromanaging), rather it is helping others catch the vision by showing them how we live that vision.
Serving out of Love. Our love and care for those around us defines how much influence we have over them. If we serve out of love and real compassion for the success of those in our care, we will avoid using authoritarian means unless in extreme and extremely rare circumstances.
Stop Lording Over People. If the use of our position of authority is required to get the work done, we need to examine ourselves…are we truly leading? One time I heard this statement, “Authority is like a bar of soap. The more we use it the less we have.” If we have to use our position of authority to force compliance, we are not leading and we will lose respect.
Stop Role Playing for Achievement. Sometimes we are tempted can act one way to impress others as a way to gain a higher stature or position. This is not leadership. Be your true authentic self. How many of you remember in IBM’s Lotus 1-2-3…in the 1990s the WYSIWYG setting? We need to live a WYSIWYG way of leading.
Stop Seeking Your Way. We may be the most experienced person in the room, this only means we have been doing something longer than others…not necessarily smarter than others. We have smart people around us, seek their input and let them give you a reason to trust them.
How do we go about leading with a servant’s heart?
Find small things we can do to show care for others. Perhaps a hand written note on a special occasion, or even without there being a special occasion.
Learn to walk slowly through a crowd. Pause and have conversations while you are staying focused on achieving goals. Build the relationships with those in your care. Use a person’s name in conversations with them.
We are all called to lead. Others around us are watching and taking their cues from how they see us respond and react. If you want to influence others to greatness, show them how to serve others. The extent to how many we can serve and encourage others to do the same will reveal the heart we have to care for and about them.