Servant Leadership: Principles
“Mapping Your Leadership Journey” (SL#24)
by Lloyd Elder, Th.D., adapted from SkillTrack®
1.1 - Exploring the Journey
Those who would explore the servant leadership journey have
yet this principle: lifetime intention and commitment. You and I perhaps could
agree with Jesus, James, Paul--and a host of contemporary voices--that affirm:
“Every tub has to sit on its own bottom.” Yes, I know that is
not sophisticated philosophy, let alone Holy Scripture (even if in desperation
a preacher tried to use it as a sermon text), but let’s see if there
is not substance to the sentiment. Principle: you must map and travel your
own journey toward servant leadership/discipleship.
Throughout my journey, I have tested and often found helpful several intersecting
“mapping practices.” From among those, let me suggest nine as
“clues only” for your consideration in mapping your own servant
leadership journey:
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Self-development: “Will you
choose to live and lead as a servant?”
Robert Greenleaf’s path to servant leadership was largely a path of
self-development. Although a lifetime of experiences, relationship, and
influences intersected his path, consciously and joyfully he chose to become
“servant as leader.” Dream and reflect; keep a journal, especially
about “markers”on your path.
Reflections:
-
The Master's Pattern: “Will
you, as a Christian in life and leadership, doggedly choose to follow Christ
as your model and strength?”
Mapping your journey should start with a liberating vision, prayer, and
Scripture about kingdom directions, the ethical use of power, and the value
of humankind. Jesus is the primary guide for such a journey.
Reflections:
-
Examples/Models: “Will you
pay attention to those you know who practice servant leadership?”
Write down why you consider them servant leaders: Who are they as persons?
How do they feel about themselves, about you? How do they do what they do?
Name them; write it down; tell them so.
Reflections:
-
Reflection: “Will you reflect,
ponder, meditate on your life experiences, behavior, events, and the human
spirit?”
“Light your own lamp”; get to know yourself better. Practice
a healthy withdrawal into silence and aloneness--the Master Himself did
so. Reflection explores meanings, not just information; it also builds a
guardrail against an aimless or “workaholic” life.
Reflection:
Glossary: “reflection” (from WordNet®
1.6)
A calm lengthy intent consideration; the phenomenon of a propagation
wave (light or sound) being thrown back from a surface; expression without
words--“tears are an expression of grief”; the pulse is a refection
of the heart’s condition.
- Relationships: “Will you build relationship
and community into the center of your life?”
The very test of servant leadership is to set as a priority, serving the needs
of those you lead. Listen to people; care about what they are truly saying.
Tell your own stories and learn from stories of those along your path. Enlarge
your band of travelers on the journey.
Reflections:
Glossary: “relationship” (American
Heritage® Dictionary)
A particular type of connection existing between people related to or
having dealings with each other; the condition or fact of being related;
connection or association; connection by blood or marriage; kinship.
-
Roles and Tasks: “What roles
and tasks give you an opportunity to practice servant leadership?”
Consider the larger dimensions of your life because the principles and practices
of servant leadership matter in your mapping plan: Personal life? Home?
Church? School? Community? Society needs? Business? Your job description?
Mapping a servant leadership path requires an awareness of authentic expectations
made of your life.
Reflections:
-
Self-Assessment: “Will you
thoughtfully inventory your servant leadership strengths and limitations?”
One way to chart the direction you want to go is to ask the question: “Where
am I now in the journey?” To what extent do your gifts, skills, and
practices contribute to servant leadership? Build on your strengths; plan
for development in areas of limitation.
Reflections:
-
Focus/Priorities: “Will you
be intentional, but realistic, about development goals?”
The practice of servant leadership takes time and work and patience. Focus
on your direction toward “servant as leader”; target and enjoy
the intersections on the journey not just the anticipated destination.
Reflections:
-
Life-Long Learning: “Will
you continue to thirst for knowledge, for understanding, for wisdom?”
Keep on learning about the long, bright pathway called servant leadership.
There is much to learn and put into practice if we are to “love God
with all the mind.” (This article and its resources may help serve
your purpose.) Your own reading and thinking should make a rich servant
leadership journal.
Reflections:
-
Reflection/Application
If “mapping your own journey” is a principle of learning servant
leadership, then the only one who can do this work is you, for yourself.
We are instructed to “walk by faith, not by sight.”
Yes, and that means all your planning should be an act of dependence on
God. What are you really after in your leadership development? Again, that
is for you to choose. It could be stated quite simply: “I want to
improve my ministry performance.” “I want to enjoy the satisfaction
it gives.” “I truly want to help people along their journey.”
“I want my life to matter, to bring honor to God.”
How do you get started? Your own choices are better, but just a few actions
are suggested:
-
Review carefully the nine suggestions in this article;
revise to make it truly your own.
-
Think ahead to the next 6 to 18 months of your leadership
opportunities.
-
Write down what you choose specifically to do about
your leadership journey.
-
Keep it brief for now; enlarge on it soon.
-
Include the key players on your leadership/ministry
team in the plan.
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Let the questions and comments of this and other articles
serve only as prompters in mapping your servant leadership journey.