As I started my teaching and coaching career as a 23 year old rookie I thought I knew it all. I had it all figured out already. After all, I had played baseball at a high level. I knew exactly how to do things. My players would do exactly what I told them to do because I told them to do it. Not because I would take the time to teach them what was best, but just because I said so. I had no plans of becoming an administrator at that point. I was going to coach forever. But, in the event that I did become an administrator, teachers would do what they were told to as well, just simply because that’s what they were told to do. Students would be the same way. It wouldn’t matter what type of relationship I had with them. I would make the decisions and they would do what they were told. There are times when tough decisions have to be made in leadership roles and they may not always be popular. But, what type of relationship you have with those people you lead is really important to how those decisions go over. Do they know you really care about them? That will determine a lot. When I had kids, they would do exactly what I told them because I would be their dad and that is how it worked. I, like many others, have been guilty of telling my kids, “because I said so, that’s why.” When I do that I think, man, that’s great leadership dad (insert the emoji of the face in the hand). I could not have been more wrong. It takes a lot for me to admit that too. But it is true. I had a false sense of what a true leader is and does. I had been so wrapped up in what I was doing and that I was going to play baseball forever that I hadn’t really paid much attention to how the leaders I had in my life did things, even though I had some great ones. Life has gotten so much better since I put myself aside and was enlightened on leadership, and actually paid attention. Am I perfect at it now, nope. Far from it in fact. But, the day I quit trying to get better at it, I am going backwards.
The definition of a servant is: a person who performs duties for others. Leadership is defined as: the action of leading a group of people or an organization. As I took classes to obtain a master’s degree in order to become a principal, I learned a lot about a concept of combining these two things. I knew what serving others was. I also knew what leadership was. I had been in situations before where I had served others. I had also been in leadership roles a lot to that point in my life. But to be honest, I had never really thought about combining those two and the importance of that combination. I’m going to preface this whole post by saying that I am a long ways from where I want to be as a servant leader, but also a long ways from where I was that day when I was first introduced to this concept. I had a professor during my time in that program that I really respected and still quote a lot of things he told us during those classes to this day. Mr. Andy North was really big on servant leadership. I remember a number of classes where this was discussed at length and examples were given of how this looks in real life. It opened my eyes to a whole new view of what it means to be a leader. So whether you know it or not Mr. North (not sure if he reads this or not, but giving him a shout out anyway), you had a huge impact on me and the way I have done things from that point forward.
Servant leadership is defined as: a leadership philosophy in which the main goal of the leader is to serve. This is different than the traditional style of leadership where the leader focuses on the success of the company or organization that they lead. While that type of leader can be successful, what I learned during my time in these classes is that it might not be the most effective. A servant leader shares power with others and develops a relationship and trust with those they work with in order to make everything as efficient and effective as possible. A servant leader truly cares about those they work with and takes the time to seek to understand them deeper than just what is on the surface. More times than not, I would say those relationships and that mutual respect gained with this type of leadership style proves to be the difference in the success of whatever it is they lead. These deep and meaningful relationships can sometimes be life changers as well. This type of leader is always looking for ways they can serve those they work with and improve as this type of a leader.
The style of leadership that someone chooses to lead with is obvious when it comes to leading a company, business, or an organization. Those types of things are typically on display in a more public way. But, what about how we lead in a personal way. Someone might say, “I am not really in any type of leadership role.” Well, the reality is that everyone is in a leadership role. We all have an opportunity to lead. It doesn’t have to be a business. In fact, sometimes those other types of leadership roles have more of a lasting impact on people than we could ever imagine.
Do you have a family? Do you have children? Do you have friends? Do you have a job? Do you attend church? The list could go on and on, but if you answered yes to any of these then you are a leader. You have the opportunity to impact people by how you do things every single day. Whether you want to admit or believe it or not, you are a leader. We all are. It is like I have said in here before, we are going to impact people every day. Whether it is good or bad is completely up to us. We are also going to lead people every day. It is up to us whether that is good or bad as well. It is all well and good to talk about this. But, the question I had when I was taking those classes was how this looks in real life. What does that look like on a daily basis? In the business world a servant leader looks at the way they can help others. They look at how they can make others better at what they do. They look at what they can do to make everything more successful with a group effort instead of it being an individual effort. They look at how they can lift others up and everyone work together to go in the same direction for the benefit of all involved.
But, I don’t think this only applies to the business world. In fact, I believe the most important leadership role we have is our role as a Christian. What better way to find out how to do this than to look at the Bible. Why not look at the greatest leader this world has ever known, and that is Jesus Christ himself. How did He approach His role as a leader?
In John 13 Jesus washes the Disciple’s feet. In chapter 13:12-15, after washing the Disciple’s feet Jesus says, “Do you not understand what I have done for you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” Jesus was, is, and will be the only person to walk the Earth as a perfect human and He was looking for ways to serve others.
In Matthew 20:25-28 Jesus is teaching about serving others. He says, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus mission was to serve others. A true leader has a servant’s heart. A servant leader realizes that they are not above any job. I have worked in public schools for a long time. I have seen many different types of leaders along the way. Some good, some bad. I am a lot more aware of this now that I am in a larger leadership role myself. One of the most impactful leadership examples I have seen came in the cafeteria one day. The cafeteria had a worker call in sick. They were one short and it was going to be very difficult to serve lunch in an efficient manner being a worker short. This was before I was an administrator, but I would soon become one. So I was really interested in observing different leadership styles. In fact, during this time I was taking those classes so leadership styles were fresh on my mind. So that day I went to the cafeteria to get my lunch tray. When I got to the serving line I saw the superintendent in the serving line. He had gloves on (didn’t have a hair net because there was no need for that for obvious reasons) and he was serving mashed potatoes. A student asked him what he was doing and he said they were short handed and needed help so he was happy to do it. He could have went and found someone to do that job, but he decided to do it himself. That’s a picture perfect example of what a servant leader does!!!
In my opinion, without a doubt, the most selfless act I have ever heard about goes back to the greatest leader I have ever heard about. Jesus death on the cross was the ultimate example of servant leadership. What Jesus did for all of us cannot be matched by any of us. But, it can serve as a prime example of the approach we should take to serving others. I have said in here many times that life comes down to loving God and loving people. Everything else falls into place if we do those two things. Jesus died for us out of love for us and with a servant leader’s heart. Our goal every day as a Christian is to be more Christlike. We should work on modeling all aspects of Jesus life. Being a servant leader is a great place to start.
My challenge to everyone this week is to look for ways that we can be a servant leader. Look for ways that we can put ourselves aside for the good of others. This has been on my heart a lot lately with the start of school nearing. There are so many uncertainties with the upcoming school year. Leadership is going to be very important. I know several educators read this blog and I want wish all my fellow educators a great school year. I said earlier I am a long way from being where I want to be in this aspect of my life. Whether it is my professional life or personal life, I can always improve at this. I would be willing to bet that everyone could say that. But, how much better would this world be if everyone really and truly focused on this for one day. One week. One month. Then what if it became a habit? What if it became a way of life for a lot of people? That might just make a huge impact on a lot of lives in a positive way. This week, look for ways to serve. Be aware of opportunities to serve others. Strive to be more Christ like in every way, beginning with serving others! It might just be contagious!!!