It’s an oft-used term in some circles, but “servant leadership” can mean different things to different people. It can also mean a few different things to the same person. Like me.
In retrospect, my first lesson in servant leadership came from my dad. He passed away when I was 24, but not before setting the example of what it means to selflessly serve your community, those who work with you, those you consider friends, and those in your family.
I remember him getting up early every Easter morning to go flip pancakes, raising funds for a local community service organization. I remember him providing services on good-faith credit to friends and strangers alike who needed gas, or even a set of tires, from the service station he operated. And I remember him helping friends and family in whatever way he could when they were in need.
He never asked for, or expected, anything in return. Servant leadership. Over time I learned what it meant to him, and what it would mean to me, which is: service to others for their benefit. The benefit to oneself is in the serving and what you learn from it and those around you. It’s not “perks” or other “benefits” of service. It’s not travel or dinners or power or preferential treatment. Sure, those things sometimes happen by virtue of the work of an organization. But they should never be the goal of service.
Unfortunately, they sometimes are.
Servant leadership can also mean the manner in which individuals and their organizations view and relate with those around them. Do I exist to serve you? Do you exist to serve me? Do we exist to serve each other and the mission and goals of the organization?
There are, of course, other motivators, including personal income, power, prestige, and other benefits. These aren’t inherently bad. But when they are the priority motivators, and the notions of service and making a difference are way down on the list, we betray the organizations and communities or clients we presumably aim to benefit.
The lens through which we look when we view our role in service makes all the difference. The difference in how we approach the work itself, the people with whom we serve, and the people our organization exists to serve in the first place.
According to Robert K. Greenleaf, founder of the Center for Servant Leadership, “The servant-leader is servant first.” Organizational consultant S. Chris Edmonds, in his book, The Culture Engine, says servant leadership is “a person’s dedication to helping others be their best selves at home, work, and in their community. Anyone can serve – and lead – from any position or role in a family, workplace, or community.”
The degree to which we are self-aware regarding our motivations for serving is a huge factor in our ability to meaningfully contribute, in how we are perceived by those around us, and in how significant our collective service to others may ultimately be.
Associan is committed to developing and supporting servant leaders. Because becoming one is more than appreciating the concept. It’s about walking the walk and seeing how this kind of leadership can change the trajectory of your organization. We’re standing by to help you strengthen your gait.
