Books
The Servant : A Simple Story About the True Essence of Leadership
James Hunter teaches us leadership through a story of a Lutheran businessman who is having trouble at work and at home. To appease his wife and boss, he goes on a spiritual retreat in a monastic setting to think things through. There he finds a former corporate CEO who left the business world some years before and now resides and teaches leadership at the monastery.
The lessons are powerful. Servant leadership in Hunter's model develops this way.
1. You make a conscious decision of the will to demonstrate love towards those with whom you relate at work and in your personal life.
2. This choice leads you to seek ways to serve others.
3. You develop influence with people by meeting their needs (as distinct from their wants).
4. You use that influence to lead others.
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Comments on this Entry:
This book is an easy read, and lays out a wonderful, healthy model of leadership in the footsteps of Jesus' teaching. My question is this. Why is this model being taught to us by the secular world? Why are we not teaching this model in our churches?
I find that many pastors do a fine job with steps one through three. However, they stop there. They create a reservoir of influence through their service and sacrifice. However, when it is time to lead people out of their comfort zone, they freeze up in their tracks. Servant Leaders hold people accountable to live out their espoused values. They follow the example of Jesus in speaking the truth in love, and will not ignore significant issues in the name of harmony. They hold others accountable to walk the talk, and embrace accountability in their own walk.
Posted by: Gregg Burch at October 11, 2005 04:20 PM
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