The Privilege of Servant Leadership

"The business of business is relationships; the business of life is human connection." -Robin Sharma-

I've had the rare privilege of speaking with so many people with amazing vision. I can recall speaking with someone so humble and inspirational, that it actually made me re-think my whole approach. He was unassuming and honestly on a normal day would have been someone that I would have passed on the street without a second glance. After speaking with him for several hours, I realized that my vision is far too limited. How often do we walk by others and never make eye contact? Had I taken that approach that particular day, I would have missed the chance to connect with someone that taught me far more than any college course or webinar I've taken.

Far too often we pass each other in halls and on the street and are so consumed with our next tweet or selfie, that we forget about the world around us. In today's "rush around world," it's easy to lose sight of what's really important; each other. We far too often place things, and "stuff" above others. We are far too consumed with mindless distractions to realize that we are passing opportunities to impact the lives of others and for them to influence us as well. I for one; have tired of meaningless, superficial interactions. I firmly believe that we were all created with and for a purpose; to make a difference in the lives of others.

I'm sure that we can quote a million blog posts, tweets, Instagram quotes, and a host others that talk about the human connection. But what's funny is, if asked, how many of us recount an instance where we lived one of those quotes. How long would it take to recall just one instance? I pride myself on being a great leader. The truth is I sometimes forget to appreciate the people I lead. Every so often, I get in my feelings. Once in a while I let the 3-year old in my head dictate how I lead. Oh crap, I just realized, I'm not perfect. LOL. OK, so may not really, but you get the point.

While I can attest that I'm not perfect and have my flaws; I can also affirm, that I do my best to ensure that those I lead feel empowered to make decisions. I check-in, sometimes far too often, to make sure that I am making a positive impact into their lives. And I'm always seeking ways to serve their needs. WHY? I realize that without them I'm a leader of one, which is no leader at all. The scariest thing in the workplace is when corporations, organizations, and governments forget that in order to maintain a position of authority, we must first remember that we must have someone to lead; that is when humanity has lost its way.

We can choose to either rule by fear or lead by serving. The latter has far greater impact than the former. You can take authority by force; that makes you a dictator. And those that follow you, do so because of fear. Ask yourself honestly, is that truly what you want? If so, stay far away from me, because we are GOING to clash. Or do you consider yourself to be a person that chooses to lead by example; forging a path for others to follow. A true leader steps out first and makes a way for others in midst of all types of circumstances; and then celebrates the whole team when the victory has been won. Which type of leader are you? Take a moment to ponder that.

One of my most favorite quotes says, "the greatest among you is the servant of all." So I realize, I just lost about fifty percent of my readers, but I'm willing to risk it. Some of you may say what great philosopher said that? Answer: Jesus, plain and simple; that's right straight from the Bible. Say what you will, but if God's great Son, was willing to live His life in service of other, then who are we to think otherwise. After all, His following is far greater that than of any of our social media follows could ever dream to compete.

My wife and I created Runners With A Vision Enterprises because we were both tired of having to be put into a position that we'd have to compromise who we are in order to operate in the marketplace. Our position is, "if we have to dim our light and pretend to be someone else, in order to serve and lead others, then the cost is just too high." As a responsible leader, our first responsibility is to be true to who we are; who God created us to be. In living this way, we open the door for others to do the same. And honestly, I've said it before, "Not everyone is your audience." And we're willing to take that chance.

Our hope is that today, you will take a moment to consider your leadership style. Who are you modeling yourself after? How is that working out for you? Are you satisfied with the outcome? If not, maybe it's time to re-think your strategy. The next move is yours, what will you choose?