Thought for the Week - 4/28/08

"The true leader serves. Serves people. Serves their best interests, and in doing so will not always be popular, may not always impress. But because true leaders are motivated more by loving concern than a desire for personal glory, they are willing to pay the price." - Eugene B. Habecker

Over the past four decades, a “quiet revolution has been taking place in workplaces around the world” (Spears, 2004). Known as “Servant Leadership,” this revolution has come about as a result of organizations competing to retain qualified, committed employees,

According to Robert Greenleaf, “Servant-Leadership is a practical philosophy which supports people who choose to serve first, and then lead as a way of expanding service to individuals and institutions” (Spears, 2004). Servant Leaders may or may not hold formal leadership positions.

Servant Leadership encourages collaboration, trust, foresight, listening, and the ethical use of power and empowerment. In addition, Greenleaf suggests such traits as, listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, stewardship and building community as important to Servant Leadership.

Leaders who internalize the Servant Leadership lifestyle through the practice of specific behavioral traits, become a product of their efforts. There is a personal transformation of self that extends beyond the organization. It is a lifestyle or alteration in one’s worldview.

What are your personal thoughts/beliefs regarding Servant Leadership?

Thought for the Week - 4/21/08

"Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results." - Andrew Carnegie

As we have stated many times in previous posts, the heart of Servant Leadership is an emphasis on others first, above or beyond self. In other words, it is the people, the team that matters. Great leaders learn the importance of finding way to involve the team in all aspects of goal setting and decision making.

This does not mean that as a Servant Leader you abdicate either your responsibility or accountability for leadership. Rather, Servant Leaders set the direction (the "whats"), provide the rationales (the "whys"), delegate implementation (the "hows") and then are available for support, encouragement and resources as necessary.

What are some effective ways in which you have found to empower others?

Thought for the Week - 4/14/08

"The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority." - Ken Blanchard

In our original post, we made the statement that: "More and more leaders today still do not understand that in order to be successful, in order to inspire and motivate people, it takes more than being told what to do and given a paycheck. It is simply no longer acceptable to lead through negative manipulation, force, and outright deceit. The days of employees being grateful to their bosses because they were given a job and then being willing to be abused, under appreciated, and ignored are over. There is a new age of leadership emerging which focuses on caring for and serving others."

What kind of leader are you? Why do you believe this is the most effective way to lead?

Thought for the Week - 4/7/08

"The manager asks how and when; the leader asks what and why." - Warren Bennis

One would think that the question: “What’s the difference between a manager and a leader?” would have a simple answer. However, the reality is that there is a great deal of confusion and disagreement about the differences between a manager and a leader. The quote cited above would suggest that a leader is a visionary and motivator, while a manager is a doer.

Does this ring true? How would you define the difference between a leader and a manger?

Can a Leader manage and a Manager lead?