"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 ESV
One misconception that often exists regarding real servant leadership is the idea that servant leaders are somehow weak. To the outside world, being both a servant and a leader is contradictory and almost completely impossible. But I am telling you that is the farthest thing from the truth. It takes real courage, real strength, and real humility to be a servant leader. It requires you to have the ability to sacrifice your own self interest for the good of others and of your team. To give you a clearer picture of this let's look at the differences between the actions of a self serving leader and someone exhibiting true servant leadership.
Leaders that are self serving lack courage for many reasons but in my opinion there are three that really stand out. First, they are overly concerned about what other people think of them and as a result they try to please EVERYONE. Second they seek to promote themselves alone. When you set a goal of self promotion courage isn't necessary because your decisions are made based on what is most expedient at the time and the easiest to navigate. And third, they lack courage because the can't or won't admit when they make a mistake. Whether it is due to fear of looking bad or just cowardice that causes this a leader will not be successful like this. Their insecurity will prevent them from being transparent with those that they lead.
Real servant leaders, however, demonstrate a great deal of courage in how they lead not only others but themselves and they are able to do so because they are clear about three things: their vision, their purpose, and their values. These individuals know exactly who they are at their core. They are very clear about their reason for being. They live and lead with a focus on doing the things that will enable them to achieve the purpose that God created them to do. Rick Warren once said, "Without a clear purpose you have no foundation on which you base your decisions, allocate your time, and use your resources." Real servant leaders understand that God made them to serve and not to be served by others.
I wish I could say I always operate from this "center" but I can't say I always have or do. I have learned that if you want to inspire the ones on your team and transform the place you work you have to have complete clarity about who you are, where you are going, and what it is that you believe. Then you have to have the courage to act by living out the purpose God created you for, pursue the vision He gave you, and stand on the values that are taught by the Word. When you demonstrate unbending courage in these areas, others will follow you into battle with the fiercest foe because they see a leader that is emulating the example set by Jesus Christ himself.
"Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do no be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." Matthew 10:16-20 ESV
One misconception that often exists regarding real servant leadership is the idea that servant leaders are somehow weak. To the outside world, being both a servant and a leader is contradictory and almost completely impossible. But I am telling you that is the farthest thing from the truth. It takes real courage, real strength, and real humility to be a servant leader. It requires you to have the ability to sacrifice your own self interest for the good of others and of your team. To give you a clearer picture of this let's look at the differences between the actions of a self serving leader and someone exhibiting true servant leadership.
Leaders that are self serving lack courage for many reasons but in my opinion there are three that really stand out. First, they are overly concerned about what other people think of them and as a result they try to please EVERYONE. Second they seek to promote themselves alone. When you set a goal of self promotion courage isn't necessary because your decisions are made based on what is most expedient at the time and the easiest to navigate. And third, they lack courage because the can't or won't admit when they make a mistake. Whether it is due to fear of looking bad or just cowardice that causes this a leader will not be successful like this. Their insecurity will prevent them from being transparent with those that they lead.
Real servant leaders, however, demonstrate a great deal of courage in how they lead not only others but themselves and they are able to do so because they are clear about three things: their vision, their purpose, and their values. These individuals know exactly who they are at their core. They are very clear about their reason for being. They live and lead with a focus on doing the things that will enable them to achieve the purpose that God created them to do. Rick Warren once said, "Without a clear purpose you have no foundation on which you base your decisions, allocate your time, and use your resources." Real servant leaders understand that God made them to serve and not to be served by others.
I wish I could say I always operate from this "center" but I can't say I always have or do. I have learned that if you want to inspire the ones on your team and transform the place you work you have to have complete clarity about who you are, where you are going, and what it is that you believe. Then you have to have the courage to act by living out the purpose God created you for, pursue the vision He gave you, and stand on the values that are taught by the Word. When you demonstrate unbending courage in these areas, others will follow you into battle with the fiercest foe because they see a leader that is emulating the example set by Jesus Christ himself.
"Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do no be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." Matthew 10:16-20 ESV
Comments
Post a Comment