GREAT LEADERSHIP IS SERVING

by Dr. Fred C. Campbell

The name Robert Greenleaf is synonymous with servant leadership. For forty years he worked for AT&T in researched management, development, and education. He had a growing suspicion that the top-down, autocratic, command-and-control leadership style wasn’t working in U.S. institutions.

Greenleaf was captivated by the idea of a servant being the best leader. In a book entitled Servant Leadership, he wrote that “the great leader is seen as servant first and that simple fact is the key to his greatness.” Service comes before leadership.

Someone greater and smarter than Robert Greenleaf actually said it first. Before His death, Jesus told His team of disciples, “Whoever wants to become great among you, must be your servant (emphasis a willingness to serve) and whoever wants to be first must be a slave to all” (emphasis on an obligation to serve). Then He defined His mission, “. . . not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) His leadership led Him to the Cross. It cost Him His life.

Great leadership isn’t primarily about methods, techniques, and skills. It’s not about titles, positions, corner offices, exquisite memberships in private clubs, tailored suits and luxury cars. GREAT LEADERS LEAD BEST WHEN THEY SERVE. SERVING MAKES A LEADER GREAT, BUT YOU MAY PAY A PRICE FOR SELF-DENIAL.

LEADERSHIP CAN BE RISKY

by Dr. Fred C. Campbell

Leadership is a risky business. The fine art of sailing an organization through stormy waters can endanger not only the leader, but also the followers on board.

E.J. Smith, Captain of the Titanic, knows. Foolishly ignoring six iceberg warnings, he ordered the crew “FULL SPEED AHEAD.” Why?

This would be the Captain’s final voyage before retirement and he wanted to arrive ahead of schedule.

On April 14, around 11:30 PM, a 100′ iceberg scraped the Titanic’s side, slicing open over 200′ of the ship. The boat immediately flooded with water. At 2:30 AM, the unsinkable ocean liner sank in the frigid waters of the Atlantic Ocean with 1500 passengers, the Captain and crew. Only 712 survived.

THE SHIP WAS SOLID, STRONG; THE LEADERSHIP WASN’T.

Leaders are like captains. They set the direction, determine the speed, command the crew, and assume responsibility for those on board. When leaders (like Capt. Smith) take risks for their benefit only without regard for others, they chart a dangerous path to a collision.

Leadership is at its best when it moves from self-serving to self-sacrificial. It’s the way Jesus led, the world’s finest and only perfect leader for all time, for all organizations, for all people, for all situations.