Servant leadership is not just a “work thing”. Servant leaders are the same person all the time. Your purpose, vision, and values should always be consistent whether at work, at home, out with friends, or whatever setting you find yourself in. The desire to serve, and help others become their very best, should not stop when you leave the office.
I often talk about the importance of “Building Relationships” for a servant leader. At work the benefits may seem obvious:
- Drives results
- Illustrates true value to others
- Puts others first
- Allows you to know and relate to what others value
- Greatly enhances your influence
But how are you doing building relationships at home? How is your focus on building relationships within your neighborhood, community, church, etc? Do you know your neighbor? Do you know their family? Do you know their interests? Do you know their needs, and how you might be able to help them? Have you ever asked them how you might serve them?
I am 100% sincere when I write that I want to start a movement of servant leadership. To make this happen it can’t just be a ‘work thing’. Let’s start by “Loving our Neighbors”! Working within our families, our friends, and the people within our own sphere of influence is the place to begin.
I am convinced if we had a world where everyone was focused on the greater good of others before themselves it would be better. We would not need all the tax supported governmental programs if we had a world where neighbors helped neighbors, families helped families, and communities helped other communities.
Also as we get intentional and adept at building relationships at home, that skill will transfer to your professional setting and it will become more natural for you.
Will you join me? Will you look to Jesus as the model for leadership, and go out and be intentional about building true relationships? One life changed can lead to 100’s, which can lead to transformation. I’ve seen numerous businesses do just this as they transform their culture to one of servant leadership. It starts with a leader. That can be YOU!
Mark
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:36-39
It’s been about 30 years but I heard someone say that your character is what you do when nobody is watching. That one sentence had a searing impact on me. Everything I did was based on the condition of my heart. I have only one heart. It goes with me everywhere. It’s not interchangeable depending on where I happen to be. I realized then the importance to relationships.How easily they are damaged due to misunderstandings, fudging the truth, being a peacekeeper instead of a peacemaker. Thanks for this reminder that we are who we are 100% of the time and we need to be intentional about how we live and build relationships with other people.
Jane, that quote “Character is what you do when nobody is watching” is often attributed to one of my favorite servant leaders – John Wooden the long time basketball coach of UCLA. He raised up many leaders during his time of coaching young men at UCLA. He had influence way beyond basketball. You certainly have a servant leader’s heart Jane! It is so evident in all you do in making this world a better place, as you “Love your Neighbors”!