It's Tuesday at 2:00pm! (PST Time: I live and work from Southern California)
Greetings to you!
Each week I send out a short leadership blog that's called "Tuesday at 2:00pm". The purpose of this is simply to provide a brief thought on leadership that you can read and think about in just a few minutes. I send it out every week at 2:00pm (PST) and encourage you to make an appointment with yourself to pause and think about the thing I'm writing about.
Russ...
LEADERSHIP QUOTE:
"If serving is below you, leadership is beyond you." Anonymous
What does this stir up? Either write me HERE or comment at the end of the blog post HERE.
A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:
This month we're going to do a dive into SERVANT LEADERSHIP. You can see past blog posts on leadership and a variety of topics HERE.
Robert K Greenleaf is considered the "father" of servant leadership as he posted in his 1970 essay saying:
"The servant-leader is servant first. It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first, perhaps because of the need to satisfy a strong power drive or to acquire material possessions. The leader-first and the servant-first are two exreme types. The leader who is servant first ensures that other peoples highest priority needs are being served."
Powerful words that "flipped the script" on leadership for many people.
In an article written on this topic, Jilinda Lee provides this simple test to see how others might view you. Answer these 10 questions:
1) Do people believe that you want to hear their ideas and will value them?
2) Do people believe that you will understand what is happening in their lives and how it affects them?
3) Do others tend to come to you when their tanks are low and options are few, especially when something traumatic has happened in their lives?
4) Do others believe you have a strong sense of clarity and keen insight into what is going on?
5) Do others follow up on your requests because they want to, or because they have to?
6) Do others contribute their ideas and vision for the good of the group when you are around?
7) Do others have confidence in your ability to anticipate the results of decisions and their consequences?
8) Do others believe you are preparing them to make a positive difference in the world?
9) Do people believe that you are committed to helping them learn, grow and develop as a whole person?
10) Do people believe that you are willing to sacrifice self-interest for the good of the group?
Before you even think about being a Servant Leader, take a look in the mirror. How do you think others view you?
DEEPER STILL:
I've had a number of people model servant leadership in my life in really unique ways. I've shared some of these before, but here they are again:
My dad, as the Senior Pastor of the church never saw a task below him. He would clean up, pick up and go above and beyond, especially when people weren't looking.
My wife, often prefers to serve "behind the scenes" and not in front of others. She wants to serve people in creative and unique ways and doesn't need to be seen for what she does.
A Pastor I worked with was always willing to go first, especially when it came to doing things everyone was expected to do. He modeled it for us, showing that he wasn't "above" us.
A colleague of mine always asked what he could do to help me, to take something off of my busy schedule.
These are people who just modeled leadership, but they come at it from a "serve first" perspective.
I like the way The Message translates this passage in Luke:
"Kings like to throw their weight around and people in authority like to give themselves fancy titles. It's not going to be that way with you. Let the senior among you become like the junior; let the leader act the part of the servant." Luke 22:25-26
Jesus models this in his leadership and instructs us to be like Him. How are you doing as a Servant Leader?
Things I'm Reading, Listening To and Watching This Week:
Here's Robert K. Greenleafs Biography. Here's one of his classic books, Servant Leadership. This was one of my textbooks in grad school.
I just spent a bunch of time ordering some projects on 4imprint. This is my "go-to" brand printing company.
I just did some strategic planning with a couple of groups and I use this chart paper to track the work. It doesn't bleed through, there are lines, and it's worked great for years! Anchor Chart Paper
Gina and I just watched this 2010 movie, The Way. Great story along "El Camino de Santiago". Really enjoyed it and now want to do this hike!
OK, you know I'm an old guy, so you won't be surprised when I tell you I listen to K-Earth 101 in Los Angeles. Classic Rock, and what's wrong with hearing the Eagles sing every song they've ever written again, and again...and again!