Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. (Matthew 20:26-27)
The model of servant-leadership that Jesus outlined for his followers is being seen by many business leaders as a practical guide that can lead to success. The model can be learned, but to be a successful servant-leader requires an attitudinal change.
Servant-Leadership was Successfully Modeled by Jesus
Several years ago I began to analyze the principles on which I wanted to base my leadership. In my search for a personal definition of leadership, I discovered that leadership is defined by Jesus in one word—servanthood.[1]
Jesus clearly established that his followers were to become servant-leaders when He declared, "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."[2]
Jesus demonstrated how seriously He wanted his disciples to follow the model when He took the role of a slave to wash their feet at his last supper with them before the Passover and his crucifixion.
"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." [3]
Though he had positional rights in the eternal universal organization, Jesus humbled himself and took a lower position as a servant in obedience to his Father's plan, so that the ultimate purpose he desired to see fulfilled would be achieved by his followers, even after his death.[4] His actions were not always popular or within the accepted practices and regulations of the authorities, but he acted based on what he knew was right in God's eyes. Jesus showed us the way to the top by such actions as wrapping a towel around his waist, washing his followers' feet, and submitting to a criminal's death on the cross, though he was declared innocent by Pontius Pilate.
Jesus' model of leadership with His disciples demonstrated that the effective leader is not so much interested in climbing a corporate ladder as in providing himself as the step-support for others to grow in their leadership. Ironically, leaders who show an attitude of service to the people they lead are often recognized as the best leaders who also succeed in their business.
But is it Practical?
In 2004 I shared a 90-minute introductory presentation on Lead Like Jesus[5] to about 100 business professionals in Quito, Ecuador. At the end of the presentation several people commented that they knew the principles would work—that if they demonstrated a genuine concern for their workers as persons and not objects, the result would be a more successful business. One young man hung around after everyone else to talk more. He summarized my 90 minutes into one sentence: "What you are proposing is that we, as leaders, should become servants to the people we lead." I nodded my agreement. "But that will lead to anarchy!" he objected. He was convinced that he had to maintain a strong directive approach to leadership or else the people under him would never perform to his standards.
Others around us quickly joined in the conversation and insisted that they knew these principles would work in their businesses if they would apply them. The group included the owner of a shoe factory, the owner of a motorcycle parts distributorship, and the founder of a clothing outlet. When we asked what business he was in, the young leader told us he was a regional director for an international non-profit organization that employs thousands of volunteers all over the world. He was right about one thing: servant-leadership does seem to be oxymoronic! But it does work!
It all boils down to having a servant attitude. Good supervision is dependent on good leadership and good leadership cannot be learned from a list of do's and don'ts. It must be learned from the inside out. Applying all the best practices of leadership is no substitute for applying the best practice of servanthood as Jesus demonstrated.
Hint to the Leader
If you feel you have tried servant-leadership and it has not worked for you, take a personal attitude check. People can sense if you're only going through the motions and don't have a genuine concern for their well-being. Look for ways to show the people you lead how much you need them and value their contribution to the organization. What are you willing to give up so that others can succeed? Their success will add to yours.
Hint to the Follower
Don't wait to be told what needs to be done. Look for opportunities to serve the organization by making suggestions of how things could be better and what you would be willing to do to make them so. Commit to being part of the solution and not part of the problem. Problem solvers are always more valued than problem makers.
© Dr. Larry N. Gay
Revised January 2010
Great Article!
ReplyDeleteOne question... do you know what ever happened to the young man in Quito? Did he switch his style of leadership to servant leadership? I know that if he did, he saw better results from his team.
I wish I knew! Changing paradigms is never easy.
ReplyDeleteHmm. Consider the response of the rich young ruler: He went away sorrowful -- the difficult of changing paradigms. Chaning leadership style is not like flicking a switch; such change requires one to question one's assumptions and biases and self-regulate one's thinking. Be ye transformed by the renewal of your minds...
ReplyDelete