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Three Things to Know…About Servant Leadership

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“The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.” – Max de Pree

Over the years there has been a lot of talk and misconceptions about servant leadership. Here’s my take…

  1. Leaders who serve do not vacate their positions of power or authority they validate it. Servant leaders have those positions not because they are power-hungry, manipulative, or selfish, but because they are not. Make no mistake, servant leaders have power and authority, but they’ve learned the secret of how and when to exercise it.
  2. Leaders who serve are invested in the success of their team. They will empower their people with every tool possible in order to ensure their success. Servant leaders understand that when they help others become successful they are successful.
  3. Leaders who serve are relational. Servant leaders are intentional about building relationships in order to gain the trust and confidence of his or her people. When you take the time to be among your people and get to know them, they will see up close what type of person and leader you are. At the end of the day, your people want a leader they can relate to not one they fear.

A few final takeaways…

  1. Don’t throw your weight around – it’s unbecoming of a leader. Serve them.
  2. Be invested in your people and they will not disappoint you.
  3. Know your people and be vulnerable. People like it when you are real.
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A Tale of Three Leaders

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The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails. – William Arthur Ward

One of my favorite stories is from John Maxwell. In it he shares about the turkey chatting it up with the bull. “I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree,” sighed the turkey, “but I haven’t got the energy.”

“Well,” replied the bull, “why don’t you nibble on some of my droppings? They’re packed with nutrients.”

The turkey pecked at a lump of dung and found that it actually gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch on the tree. The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch. Finally after a fourth night, there he was proudly perched on top of the tree. But he was promptly spotted by a hunter, who shot him down out of the tree.

The moral of the story: BS might get you to the top, but it won’t keep you there.

Every leader I know wants to make it to the top. I’ve yet to find one that doesn’t want to be successful. Your leadership point of view – how you see your world, will set into motion the realities of your leadership and to a certain extent the success you have. Will your present leadership style get you to the top? Will it keep you there? Here are three style of leadership for your consideration.

The pessimistic leader

This is the leader who always sees the glass half empty. For this leader the next disaster is just around the corner and no one is prepared for it. The pessimistic leader assumes the worst and usually creates self-filling predictions.

It’s hard to wrap our minds around this type of leadership style but it’s one that in some circles exists. The only thing more demoralizing than working for this type of leader is being one. But know this; a pessimistic leader is one by choice. The pessimistic leader is not the only leader to face adversity, setbacks, personnel issues, economic challenges, etc. It comes with the territory. Then what’s the deal breaker? In a word – attitude.

The pessimistic leader’s lid of limitation is his or her attitude. Until this leader drops their pessimistic ways they never make it to the top. Zig Ziglar was right when he said, “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” Change your attitude and you will change your point of view.

The optimistic leader

The optimistic leader has an easier path to the top. Why? For the opposite reason the pessimistic leader will not reach it. Optimism is the fuel that drives you and it’s contagious. A healthy dose of optimism will give you and your team the competitive advantage you need to climb your way to success.

But is optimism alone enough or is more needed? Just as you need a dream or a goal to shoot for, optimism alone is not sufficient. You must be awakened to your dream and work it. You can dream all day but until you go to work you are just a daydreamer. You need an optimistic frame of mind that causes you to believe that anything is possible-and it is- but you must channel that optimism through hard work and measureable results.

An optimistic leader expects challenges and is prepared for them. But the optimistic leader needs to know how and when to pivot and be prepared to make adjustments. It’s hard to remain optimistic for long if you are going in the wrong direction.

The realistic leader

The realistic leader knows how to discern the BS, adjust the sails, and make the best of every challenge and opportunity. The leader wearing the realistic hat will tell you the truth no matter how sobering it may be. It may sound something like this, “Times are tough. We’re not where we want to be or should be. We’ve been blindsided, and at times we’ve dropped the ball. We’re going to make some changes and if we will pull together and work hard, together we can turn this around.” It’s acknowledging problems and accepting responsibility with optimism still in place.

The realistic leader walks a tightrope. If the tone is too harsh it can have negative consequences. If the message is not delivered forcefully enough the perception can be that problems are being swept under the rug. But optimism devoid of reality sets people up with a false hope. People need to know what’s optimistically within reach.

A realistic leader’s greatest asset in order to be successful is trust. When people trust their leader to not BS them and give it to them straight, and have their backs, the sky is the limit as to how high they can go.

Which type of leader are you?

 

© 2014 Doug Dickerson

 

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Leadership Minute: Late So Soon

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How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flown. How did it get so late so soon? – Dr. Seuss

Leadership is a journey. Each day, week, month, and year you have the privilege of leading is a testament to your resolve. Have you hit some rough spots along the way? Absolutely. Have you overcome some setbacks and disappointments? Of course. But one thing is certain – leaders like you are the ones who make the world a better place. Why? You care. And you are passionate not just about leading others but also about leading yourself. You realize that in order to be a better leader tomorrow you have to commit yourself to growing and learning today. Every selfless act of leadership is a testament to that growth. Today let me encourage you to see the bigger picture. It’s not about you. But the life of leadership you live today is a model for the next generation. Soon you will ask, ‘How did it get so late so soon?’ But not to worry, you’ve been a great teacher.

 

 

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Leadership Minute: Fluffy People

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If the person you are talking to doesn’t appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear. – A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh

Winnie the Pooh puts a kind spin on some of the people you will deal with as a leader. You know the type. They seemingly go through the motions of listening but deep down you know they have fluff in their ears. As a leader communication is important. What you say, how you say it, and making sure the message gets through is essential to your success. If you are like me at times, patience is not your best virtue, so you don’t like to waste time repeating yourself. There are times when it’s not the message or the recipient that’s at fault – it’s the timing. Make sure that your communication is carefully planned so as to maximize delivery and increase reception. Remember, communication is a two-way street and not everyone is be tuning you out, so don’t blame it on the fluff.

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Leadership Minute: Compassionate Leadership

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Always keep an open mind and a compassionate heart. – Phil Jackson

No matter what your station is in life; regardless of the title or position that you hold; it all comes down to this underlying attitude. When you can walk through life and leadership with all of its challenges and keep an open mind and a compassionate heart you have achieved something special. When you can keep an open mind to new possibilities and ways of thinking and possess a willingness to learn; you will go far as a leader. When you choose to have a compassionate heart towards others without being calloused by the cares of life; you have grown gracefully as a person. These two traits will always serve you well in life and in leadership. If there’s ever been a time for leaders to model this type of living it’s now. With an open mind and a compassionate heart you can impact your world in a positive way.

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The Makings of a Jealous Leader

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The jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves. – William Penn

Dr. Gary Collins shares a story about Sir Walter Scott. For many years Sir Walter Scott was the leading literary figure in the British Empire. No one could write as well as he. Then the works of Lord Byron began to appear, and their greatness was immediately evident. Soon an anonymous critic praised his poems in a London Paper. He declared that in the presence of these brilliant works of poetic genius, Scott could no longer be considered the leading poet of England. It was later discovered that the unnamed reviewer had been none other than Sir Walter Scott himself!

Jealousy is one of those emotions that can cause much harm to your leadership and one that you must keep in check. It’s also an emotion that you must be willing to confront. Let’s be honest, at one time or another we’ve all had a bout with it. So what happens when you allow jealousy to enter into the DNA of your leadership style? What are the consequences and how can you stop it? Here are a few ways it might be impacting your leadership.

Signs of a jealous leader:

Jealousy makes you feel threatened

Jealousy materializes when you can resent the success of your peers rather than celebrate it. Instead of what is seen as a win for the team is a threat to one – you. Jealousy has an unflattering way of revealing motives and exposing serious leadership flaws. Jealousy reveals your insecurities, not your strengths.

Jealousy causes divisions

If left unchecked, jealousy leads to divisions and poses serious threats to the health and culture of your organization. The triggers can vary – you were passed over for a promotion that you thought was yours. You didn’t get the recognition you thought you were due. Rather than working through the issue jealousy caused you to act out in unbecoming ways. Jealousy creates strife, not harmony.

Jealousy skewers your judgment

One of the unfortunate side effects of a jealous leader is that your judgment becomes impaired. Rather than looking at situations objectively you now act out in ways that speaks more of pettiness and retaliation. When jealousy is in your heart it will reflect in the decisions you make.

How to fix it?:

Be honest with yourself

Being honest about jealous feelings is the proverbial first step in weeding it out. Don’t let pride be your downfall by refusing to deal with it. We’ve all had a jealous moment or two in our lives, but we don’t have to lead that way. You can’t build trust with your people if you are not honest with yourself.

Be comfortable in your own skin

As a leader you don’t have to compare yourself to anyone. Don’t allow personal insecurities lead to your demise. Be confident in the talents and abilities you possess and do all that you can to inspire the same in others. Recognize that the skills and abilities you have will be different from those around you. See your colleagues not as you adversaries but as allies. You win and succeed by getting along not by being jealous.

Be accountable to others

Your success as a leader is a work in progress. Jealousy is a toxic emotion that can derail it. But if you will allow a trusted confidant or mentor to hold you accountable it can save you a lot of grief in the future. Leading others is an awesome responsibility. Leading yourself takes some work. Accountability makes it all possible.

What do you say?

 

© 2014 Doug Dickerson

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Leadership Minute: Lead the Peace

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Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. – Matthew 5:9 (Jesus)

This is perhaps one of the biggest dichotomies of leadership. Being a peacemaker is often seen as a sign of weakness when in reality it’s a sign of strength. Keeping the peace is about making hard decisions that are not necessarily seen as peaceful. Leadership weakness is found in a passive or casual style of looking the other way and tolerating things that otherwise would be looked upon as offensive. The decisions you make as a leader have consequences. It can please the masses or anger them depending on the day. But that’s a non-factor for the leader who bases his or her decisions on values and principles rather than on what’s expedient. Leading the peace occurs when you apply your leadership skills to make the case for the direction you are going. You can lead the peace or preside over appeasement, but know this; you will not know peace if you choose the latter. My suggestion? Be a peacemaker.

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