Interestingly, servant leadership is probably an idea that
is most commonly associated with stories of Jesus in the New Testament. When he washes
his disciples feet (found in the Gospel of John, chapter 13) he humbles himself in order
to be an example. The NIV version puts it this way:
[Jesus said] Do you understand what I have done
for you?...Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should
wash one another's feet. I have set you and example that you should do as I have done
for you. (vs 12-15)
This is
the illustration of the principle Jesus introduces in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 20,
verse 16 "The first shall be last and the last shall be
first."
The general idea here was revolutionary in Biblical
times (and still is today) because when most people think of leadership, they think of
being in charge, working their way to the top, and eventually having
servants. The principle Jesus proposes is exactly opposite of what our human
tendency is. The natural human inclination is to view positions of leadership as
commanding from the top, not participating in the
grunt-work.
In life, however, this principle can be proved
through practice. Another word for "servant leadership" could be "participatory
leadership." Think about the difference between teachers who only teach by giving
lectures from a distance and teachers who are at students' desks, helping them think and
work out answers with them. Think about getting 2-year-olds to
clean up messes. It goes far better when the adult in charge is on the floor
demonstrating and helping.
Servant
leaders earn respect by putting the needs of others first. They show that they are
making decisions for the good of the group, rather than just themselves. Even
prime-time television has emphasized the idea with the new show on CBS: "Undercover
Boss." As corporation heads take on the challenges of those doing the dirty work, they
are able to see and appreciate how their employees feel and what they
need.
No comments:
Post a Comment