One morning our staff had a company breakfast. Our human resources manager observed the following: An employee of mine was preparing a bagel for herself and when I walked in, she asked, "would you like yours toasted?," to which I replied, "yes thanks." While everyone prepared their own breakfast, mine was prepared for me by someone who works for me! Some time later, the same HR manager observed a similar behavior in another branch. I was there with an employee of my team. We had ordered pizza for lunch and the pizza was in the kitchen. I was busy doing some work, when this employee came up to me and asked, "how many slices do you want and what would you like to drink?". She then went off and fixed me lunch. The HR manager thought this was very curious.
To a human resources manager, red flags may be going up when two female employees fix food for their male boss. So she asked why were they fixing me food? I told her that the members of my team fix food not only for me, but we all fix food for each other. Also, those same employees would come to me and give me a breakfast list to go across the street and get them breakfast. So for a little while, their boss becomes the "delivery guy." That is the example I lead by, which became the norm on my team.
There are hundreds of definitions for leadership. I believe that at the top of the many definitions, the word "servant" should be prominently shown. A true leader is a true servant. There is no better way to get people to follow you than to first show them you care about them. When people perceive that you care about them and that you would rather serve them, they will eagerly follow you.
A servant leader never seeks to take the credit for successes and never shifts blame for failures. Such a leader is quick to credit his (or her) followers, who help him or her succeed, for the successes and he or she accepts full responsibility for the failures. The servant leader is one who will defend his followers and would become the sacrificial lamb if necessary to protect those he leads.
Here is the secret benefit of being a servant leader:
I have observed various leadership styles in my experiences, which range from military life to corporate life. Over and over again I see the same pattern among those who are being lead. The leaders who tend to get more cooperation and motivation out of those they lead, are themselves hard workers who without hesitation will get into the trenches with their people.
They know how to get down low with their people to accomplish the mission. They are also good listeners. Once again, because they care. They hear what is being said and what is not being said [verbally].
The secret is in knowing that the person who is leading really cares. If on the other hand it is perceived the that leader does not care, then they will find cooperation among those they lead, more out of obligation rather than motivation. Obligation because leaders in the work place tend to be positional. However, there are leaders who do not have any positional authority over people who follow them, and they lead quite well. Think of the followers of Mother Teresa for example. They did not follow her for fame and riches.
Boss, wife and the servant's controversial love... by JahazVId
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1083348
To a human resources manager, red flags may be going up when two female employees fix food for their male boss. So she asked why were they fixing me food? I told her that the members of my team fix food not only for me, but we all fix food for each other. Also, those same employees would come to me and give me a breakfast list to go across the street and get them breakfast. So for a little while, their boss becomes the "delivery guy." That is the example I lead by, which became the norm on my team.
There are hundreds of definitions for leadership. I believe that at the top of the many definitions, the word "servant" should be prominently shown. A true leader is a true servant. There is no better way to get people to follow you than to first show them you care about them. When people perceive that you care about them and that you would rather serve them, they will eagerly follow you.
A servant leader never seeks to take the credit for successes and never shifts blame for failures. Such a leader is quick to credit his (or her) followers, who help him or her succeed, for the successes and he or she accepts full responsibility for the failures. The servant leader is one who will defend his followers and would become the sacrificial lamb if necessary to protect those he leads.
Here is the secret benefit of being a servant leader:
I have observed various leadership styles in my experiences, which range from military life to corporate life. Over and over again I see the same pattern among those who are being lead. The leaders who tend to get more cooperation and motivation out of those they lead, are themselves hard workers who without hesitation will get into the trenches with their people.
They know how to get down low with their people to accomplish the mission. They are also good listeners. Once again, because they care. They hear what is being said and what is not being said [verbally].
The secret is in knowing that the person who is leading really cares. If on the other hand it is perceived the that leader does not care, then they will find cooperation among those they lead, more out of obligation rather than motivation. Obligation because leaders in the work place tend to be positional. However, there are leaders who do not have any positional authority over people who follow them, and they lead quite well. Think of the followers of Mother Teresa for example. They did not follow her for fame and riches.
Boss, wife and the servant's controversial love... by JahazVId
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1083348
