As a Leader, my role is to serve the Board I report to, the associates I work with, the staff I supervise and the customers and clients who come to us. The Servant Leader is first and foremost a servant. Scripture confirms, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35), “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Mark 10:43), “and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:44-45).
Many leaders rely on the temporary and fleeting power derived from their position. These short term leaders forget that authority and respect is given by others and earned daily. Nehemiah, the great builder of the Old Testament, was a servant first: “I was cupbearer to the king” (Nehemiah 1:11). Christ goes on to encourage the leader to excel, “if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage, if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently” (Romans 12:7-8).
Take a serious look at your church’s last Annual Report and look for examples of natural & spontaneous serving. What do your Elders, Deacons, Ministers and the Leadership do to provide acts of service to others within and without the church. Look for leaders concentrating on serving instead of controlling, a reliance on spontaneous serving instead of being bound by policies, procedures and the hierarchy structure of tradition. Then, look to your own life and find ways to serve. Think through your last couple of weeks and your To Do List for today. Is your focus on controlling or serving?
Leadership is serving, our Heavenly Father, your personal and organizational vision, your boss, your Board, your Associates, your staff and your customers.
Yours in Service,
Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach