A Great Leader, Part 2

Continued from A Great Leader, Part 1


A great leader has a servant's heart.

When I remember the people who have been great leaders in my life, there's one common thread... they had a servant's heart. They didn't just tell me what to do, they showed me how to do it and helped me to accomplish things.

 

I had one supervisor that never told me what to do when I was problem solving a situation. Instead, she helped me find my own solution. She listened as I talked through it and asked questions to guide me along the way. By allowing me to come to my own conclusion, she communicated to me that she had faith and trust in my abilities.

 

I had one supervisor who always had a listening ear, whether it was work or home related. Through her ability to always make time for each one of her employees, she was able to communicate that she cared.  

 

And not-work-related... my parents have demonstrated leadership skills and been servants to me my entire life. How many times did they unselfishly give up something they needed to make sure I got to play sports, be in band, and go on trips? How many times have they aided me in finding my own solutions to problems while being there to catch me when I failed? They clearly represent what it means to lead with love and a servant's heart.

 

I believe the best leaders in my life have been the ones that sought to help me, to teach me, and to serve me because they cared. And each of them had characteristics that I want to imitate in my role as a leader.

One of my favorite movies is 'We Were Soldiers' starring Mel Gibson. It is a story about the first major battle of the Vietnam War. Mel Gibson plays a Lieutenant, Colonel Hal Moore, who is dedicated to the men who serve underneath him. He spends a great deal of time training and preparing his men for battle. He shows genuine concern for what is happening in their personal lives. Before going into battle Moore promises his men that he will be the first to step on the field in battle and the last to step off. He does exactly that even when his superiors urge him to leave the battle field for his own safety.

There's one scene in 'We Were Soldiers' that is the best example I have ever seen of a servant leader. The scene clearly distinguishes between two types of leaders. The servant leader seeks to find out why the men are falling behind, help them solve the problem, and then hold them accountable for following through with the solution. The power hungry leader blames the men for not keeping up and seeks to humiliate and demean the men for falling behind.

 

Which leader would you rather follow? Which leader would you rather be?

To be continued....