Here’s a powerful principle.
Change how your people think and talk about your company and you’ll change how your people work within it. It’s that simple. In his best-selling book, It’s Your Ship, Michael Abrashoff explains how his ship moved from lowest to highest rating on all scales within two years. One of his key points is to be sure your men and women know that the ship is their ship, not his. Once your people understand the ship (business, church, mission organization etc.) belongs to them, they will work to improve everything.
I like to watch for character traits of the Christian Servant Leader. James C. Hunter in his book, The World’s most powerful Leadership Principle quotes General Norman Schwarzkopf “Ninety-nine percent of leadership failures are failures of character”. Or, as Dwight Moody, the nineteenth-century lay evangelist, once remarked, ‘the word character comes from a Greek verb meaning ‘to engrave’. A person’s character, then is the visible sign of his inner nature.” If character is that important to leadership development, then we need to take it seriously.
As a leader, what can you do to demonstrate God’s love? Angie Mays in her book, The Courteous Rebel suggests, “Servant Leadership is being a servant first. The essence of servant leadership is leading by example.” Further, in reference to the shepherd, (Ezekiel 34:2 NIV), “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not the shepherd take care of the flock?”
Demonstrate God’s love by caring for those you serve. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one other”. (John 13:35 NIV)
Leadership is serving those who look to you as their leader.
Yours in Service,
Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach
Jethro Group