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October 2005 Editorial: Why aren’t there more servant leaders?

Welcome to the October 2005 weLEAD editorial

By Dr. Howard Baker

True servant leadership must begin with one-on-one relationships. Some may like to think of servant leadership just in terms of “serving the organization,” but one can not truly practice servant leadership in the abstract. People make up organizations, and if you are not building serving relationships with those you lead, then you are not really a servant leader.

In his book, The Servant Leader, James A. Autry says that whether you call it caring leadership or servant leadership, there is nothing “soft” or easy about it.

He continues by stating:

“Leadership is not about controlling people; it’s about caring for people and being a useful resource for people.”

Notice that another way of describing servant leadership is caring leadership. True servant leadership is driven by service and love, not by holding on to power and territory!

Robert Greenleaf stated:

“Caring for persons, the more able and the less able serving each other, is what makes a good society.”

But how do you really care about those you lead? Start by paying attention to them. I don’t mean just appearing to pay attention to them, but really paying attention to them. Listen to them with your heart as well as your ears. Let go of your ego and begin to learn what help and resources they need to do their work. Be open and approachable at all times. Discover their hopes, fears, desires, and ambitions. Find out how you can help them find greater meaning in their lives. Become useful to those you are trying to lead. Mentor them, first and foremost, by your example of caring and concern.

Dr. Denise Johnston, executive director of the Center for Children of Incarcerated Parents, states in regard to mentoring, “The relationship is the intervention.” Be a friend and one that can be called upon whenever there is a need.

As James Autry said, that there is nothing soft or easy about this. He says that it is a lot easier to talk about something than to put it into practice. Just like the old slave spiritual stated, “Everybody talkin' about Heaven ain't goin' there...” So it is with servant leadership.

There is such a thing as a pseudo servant leadership. A pseudo servant leader practices hypocrisy by talking impressively about empowerment and caring, while micromanaging and exhibiting a great deal of self service. Such are wolves in sheep’s wool who have mastered the language of servant leadership but not the practice.

However, Dr. Stephen Covey says:

“Sincerity cannot be faked for long. Eventually leaders reveal themselves.”

Why aren’t there more servant leaders?

One answer is that practicing real servant leadership is not always a pleasant experience. The problem with living as a servant leader is that you are often treated as a servant! You may have to do things you don’t want to do, and do them when it is not convenient. That is the lot of a servant!

My wife’s younger sister died a few years ago of breast cancer. Before she died she told my wife about her minister. She said that her minister had also become a true friend. She said that if she were stranded with car trouble and needed someone to come pick her up, her minister would be the first friend she would think to call—night or day. That made an impression on my wife and me. Here was a leader and mentor that was also a servant.

Servant leaders do menial tasks when there is a need. They go out of their way to help others be successful. They are available not only when it is convenient, but also when it is not convenient! They help people learn and also help them learn more about themselves. Servant leaders have their whole selves available for service in both the good times and the bad.

James Autry states:

“Servant leadership is not only good-time leadership. Its value to you and your people has even more meaning and impact during the times when people are worried and struggling.”

Servant (or caring) leadership is sacrificial. Robert Greenleaf stated, “Living this way is partly a matter of faith.” James Autry says that “servant leadership requires courage and faith.” Learning this way of faith should begin in childhood from the mentoring of loving parents.

In his book Principle-Centered Leadership, Dr. Stephen Covey said he and his wife Sandra taught their children “to have faith, to believe and trust others, and to affirm, build, bless, and serve others.” They also tried to be a right example of servant leadership by providing “support, resources, and feedback.”

In their book NUTS!, Kevin and Jackie Freiberg state:

“When we know how much we are loved, only then can we love others. It’s hard to draw on an emotional bank account that is depleted.”

Robert Greenleaf pointed out that those served by a servant leader are more likely to become servants themselves. Servant leaders often discover that when they need help and encouragement, those that they have consistently served will step up to the plate and serve them! Shared commitment, trust, and unconditional love will grow where true servant leadership is lived.

Comments to: hbaker@leadingtoday.org

To read more of Dr. Baker’s articles, click here to locate the “Baker Collection”.

About the author:

Dr. Howard Baker is Director of Education for INSPIRE! Learning Systems. He holds a B.S. in Management from Samford University, a Master of Accounting (MAcc) from the University of Southern California and a Ph.D. in Information Systems from the University of Texas at Arlington. He has been a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) since 1989. He is an adjunct professor in both Business Administration and Public Administration at the University of Texas at Tyler. Dr. Baker is a lifetime charter member of weLEAD and the founding editor of the weLEADInLearning web site’s E-Journal of Organizational Learning and Leadership located at www.weleadinlearning.org. His weLEAD email address is hbaker@leadingtoday.org.