The way you view yourself sets the trajectory of your leadership.
You might pressure people into conformity, but that never wins hearts. You must choose between short-sighted coercion and servant leadership.
Choose who to be:
- Big shots intimidate. Servant leaders influence.
- Bureaucrats make rules. Servant leaders build relationships.
- Buttinskies love suck ups. Servant leaders seek feedback.
- Top dogs mark their turf. Servant leaders expand their team.
- Control freaks need conformity. Servant leaders invite buy in.
- Bullies instill fear. Servant leaders instill courage.
- Bosses need salutes. Servant leaders pull with.
- Authoritarian leaders beat down. Servant leaders lift.
- Traditional leaders know. Servant leaders learn.
- Superiors have subordinates. Servant leaders have partners.
- Elites love the spotlight. Servant leaders share the spotlight.
- Rooster leaders need privilege. Servant leaders fulfill purpose.
- Chiefs need obedience. Servant leaders invite commitment.
- Egotistical leaders focus on self. Servant leaders turn toward others.
- Head honchos restrict. Servant leaders release.
- Prideful leaders congratulate themselves. Servant leaders applaud others.
- Political leaders manipulate. Servant leaders practice transparency.
- Kingpins punish people. Servant leaders develop people.
- Big wheels bloviate. Servant leaders listen.
- Savior-leaders fix problems. Servant leaders seize opportunities.
The first choice of leadership isn’t what to do. It’s who to be.
Which comparison/contrast speaks loudly to you?
What contrasts do you see between traditional leadership and servant leadership?
Bonus material:
What is Servant Leadership (Greenleaf)
10 Principles of Servant Leadership (Kent State)
9 Qualities of the Servant Leader (Skip Prichard)
