Servant leadership (Ruined for the Ordinary)
At first glance the title does have that oxymoron ring to it. I mean, since when do leaders serve the needs and motivations of their teams? Leaders are a tough bunch looking to get the maximum out of their staff to ensure a bottom line with a big upturned smile.
I spent my post matric years protecting South Africans against the 'Rooi Gevaar' whilst doing my National Service on the border -well that's what I was told. My pay was a generous R1.00 per day and upon enquiry, which my corporal was reluctant to endure from a troopie, I was told that I was not paid to think, only to carry out the orders of my all powerful leaders. The following two years of my life proved to be a testimony to just that. When a sergeant says jump, you just say, "How high?" Not questioning why or that I might have a problem getting my parachute on first. I guess from there on my mindset, or what was left of it as I plummeted earthward at 200 kilometers per hour, was pretty well set on how leaders were in the real world.
We have probably all had the unfortunate moments of being 'mentored' by leaders who thought or think that they are put on earth to run the affairs of men and woman. Even worse, like me, to become such a leader too.
In 1986 I studied leadership in Amsterdam, Holland and it was there that my entire concept of leadership was gently put onto the spin cycle until every vestige of what I thought leadership was, was wrung through. Thankfully the pain was worth it and I emerged somewhat battered but definitely good and clean and fresh.
What really changed in me was the way I understood my role as a leader. Could it really be that my job was to make sure that I had to become a whole person in order to ensure wholeness in others? That my character spoke louder than my actions? That by serving others I was bringing them into their destiny and purpose? That I could get the results while treating others with such dignity and respect that they loved delivering the numbers? That I could open a window for each one to see the world differently, to be ruined for the ordinary?
Sound a bit idealistic? Maybe to some. The reality is that this should be the rule rather than the exception. Over the next few months I hope to explore how to make servant leadership and its myriad challenges practical and workable in the marketplace.