Serving Leadership

Serving Leader

Most people go through life with an attitude of what can you do for me whether it is on a personal or professional level. It is with this attitude that we find ourselves lacking for fulfillment in this life. What can we do to change this lacking or void that so many of us have in our lives? We can fill that void in our personal and professional lives by changing our views, attitude and perspective of what is important in life through serving others.

In order to be able to serve others or be a serving leader we first have to know the difference between the traditional leader and the serving leader. According to Wikipedia, Servant leadership is both a leadership philosophy and set of leadership practices. Traditional leadership generally involves the accumulation and exercise of power by one at the “top of the pyramid.” By comparison, the servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first, and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible. So in order to be a serving/servant leader you must be willing to put others before yourself and give up the need for power. As Alistair Reynolds put it in the book, “The Serving Leader is down here unleashing the strengths, talents, and passions of those he or she serves. It works this way for a team of two, a business with a thousand employee’s, or a community of several million” (Jennings et all, 14). All too often we are more concerned with ourselves to see what others have to offer. It is when we see things in a different light and be willing to keep our “personal ego in check—and build the confidence and self-esteem of others—it is then possible for the team to work together” (27). The qualities that make serving leaders better is not only putting others needs before your own but also by “being selective in choosing the leaders you’re going to work with and continually raising the expectations for performance” (38).

People want to be successful and make their life count for...