Leading as a servant

Servant Leadership is much talked about today. Danah Zohar says that for the servant leader “business becomes a spiritual vocation” (1). The idea of quantum thinking is based around the theories in quantum physics where apparent contradictions occur simultaneously. It is not an either/or world but a both/and. Leaders today have to be able to cope with ambiguity and lead at the edge of chaos! Servant leadership is more about a way of being than ways of doing.  

The idea of servant leadership however is not new. “…whoever wants to become great amongst 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” (2) are words spoken by Jesus of Nazareth nearly 2000 years ago) Jesus kingdom has often been called an “upside down kingdom” where many of our values and expectations are turned on their head. He is the best example we have of servant  leadership as he lies down his  life for the ultimate benefit of his followers. 

How does this relate to a business leader? It is about abandoning the autocratic style of management, away from control and coercion. It is about giving direction so that people know where they are going, but then empowering them to get there. In doing so it engages them mentally in driving forward, delivering better service, seeking excellence, thus enhancing motivation. The leader is there to give people the tools to do the job as well as to support and encourage them. The welfare of individuals becomes of overwhelming importance, allowing them to grow as people  as well as develop as employees.

It also transforms relationships  with customers, suppliers and other stakeholders as the service ethos drives improved business ethics.

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(1) Danah Zahor                     Re-wiring the Corporate  Brain   Berret-Koechler   1997     p154

(2) Matthew Ch20 vv26&27       Holy Bible- New                                                 1979
                                           International Version    Hodder and Stoughton