Servant leadership
ChatGPTA major leadership focus in recent years has been on "servant leadership." When people promote this approach, they inevitably cite Jesus washing His disciples' feet as the prototype (John 13:1-20). Jesus came as a servant, and He set the example for us to follow (Matt. 20:28). This model certainly presents a stark contrast to worldly leaders who seek to be served and paid exorbitant salaries!
Yet a problem arises when the two words are separated. Some people mistakenly assume "servant leadership" is merely a synonym for "servanthood."
Someone once told me he was teaching college students "servant leadership" by taking them to minister to the homeless. I responded that it sounded like he was teaching them servanthood (which is a noble undertaking), not servant leadership. Servant leadership requires people to lead. Conversely, some people call their leadership "servant leadership," even though it features no trace of servanthood!
Servant leadership means you value the needs of those you lead. Rather than using people to achieve your goals, you strive to improve their lives.
You might offer college scholarships, provide corporate chaplains, or initiate various programs to aid employees. You may invest in developing a healthy and wholesome organizational culture. There are numerous ways to bless the people under your leadership!
When it comes to servant leadership, it's important to offer two caveats.
First, leaders are first and foremost servants of God, not their people.
Some people advocate a form of servant leadership in which the people being led take the lead. That isn't leadership. The disciples were never in charge. Jesus was. He was a servant of His Father; He was never His disciples' servant.
Interestingly, there is only one account of Jesus washing His disciples' feet. Had he been their servant, He would have presumably washed them every day. He didn't. I believe He washed them on the night He was arrested because that is what His Father instructed Him to do. When Peter told Jesus notto wash his feet, Jesus rebuked him. Clearly, Peter wasn't in charge (John 13:8-9).
Second, servant leaders serve their organization, not merely their employees.
Some leaders are so concerned with making their employees happy that they unintentionally harm their organization in the process.
Being generous is noble, but if the organization goes bankrupt or fails to achieve its mission, then the employees will soon be out of a job.
On the other hand, wise leaders understand that the best way to accomplish their mission is to take good care of their people. It's a both/and.
I like the concept of servant leadership. But like many great principles, misconceptions inevitably creep in and rob it of its greatest impact.
Leaders should deeply care for the people they lead. They should seek to lift up their employees as they build their organization. But leaders must also lead.
They ought to keep their organization's mission in mind. Leaders must also remember that the organization and the staff do not exist to serve them.Leaders are servants of God and of their organization. Serving both effectively requires humility and focus.
Leaders who know both how to lead and how to serve will be a powerful force in today's world.
 | Richard Blackaby is the president of Blackaby Ministries International and lives in Georgia. He travels internationally speaking on spiritual leadership in the home, church, and marketplace as well as on spiritual awakening, experiencing God, and the Christian life. Richard regularly ministers to Christian CEOs and business leaders. He has written or co-authored 33 books . This article was first published on RichardBlackaby.com. Used with permission from Blackaby Ministries International. Learn More » |
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