So… you have been put in a position where you now lead people. Your responsibility is now to motivate and direct people to achieve a common goal. It is a big responsibility, and when it’s done right it can be very rewarding.
I am pretty certain your first image of a leader is not that of a servant. We think about leaders as the front-line members of our team commanding the ship. The fearless leader charges the storm and leads us into battle, right? In reality, the best leaders don’t do that … unless they have to. Rather they selflessly position themselves in the team in such a manner as to guide them through the storm and win the battle.
Most leaders may take a double take at this statement – “Great leadership and service go hand in hand”. With a little more thought, you start to realize that the most memorable leaders you have come across are those who are willing to put the needs of others before theirs…they are the ones you would probably have in your list of “best leaders I have worked for”.
When we talk about service in reference to leadership, we speak of a service-oriented attitude that yields exponential benefits by giving, mentoring, supporting, and guiding. The leader who serves with his or her time, empathy, patience, and forgiveness is the one who leads a team with a high retention rate, a team that is confident, a team that feels appreciated, and a team that is willing to go the extra mile….work the extra weekend…..put in the extra hour. In turn, the team benefits..the leader benefits…..what was initially put in by the servant leader is reaped in abundance. It is a winner’s circle.
– Nelson Mandela served by sacrificing 27 years of his life behind prison bars to become a symbol of freedom for his people. In total, he spent 67 years serving his country.
– Mahatma Gandhi says it best in his quote “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” He dedicated his whole life to the service of his motherland and especially the less privileged. He encouraged us to serve the poorest and weakest and in turn serve ourselves.
– Martin Luther King was another historical leader whose mission in life was simply to serve others.
So many great leaders have come and gone. Though we can only strive and hope to impact those we lead as they did, it is worth mentioning that many great leaders were also great servants.
