A big part of the research and writing I am doing on leading with humble intelligence crosses the lines of servant leadership, which many leaders say they are, but unfortunately their actions don’t always support their proclamation. One quick test to see if one is truly a “servant” leader is whether or not they are accountable to someone. I’m not talking about the broad accountability to their customers or community, but rather whether or not they report to someone or a group of people who can literally tell them what they are to do. I posit that if someone has unquestioned and unaccountable power, they are not truly a servant leader. They must answer to someone (and answering to God doesn’t count as we all ultimately answer to God, whether we say so or not!) Here is an excerpt of the writing I’m doing. Remember that the primary lens through which I see leadership is in the church, but these principles can apply to all organizational leaders.
There is no doubt that churches can and should benefit from pastors who have keen business minds and experience. Unfortunately, however, the price tag attached to hiring such a strong leader is often the giving of unconditional power and a lessening of accountability, which sows the seeds for leaders to become intoxicated with their position of unquestioned influence and forgetting that they were called to be servants. Author Gerald Keucher stated,
“The important thing to remember about servants is that, of all people, they are always completely accountable to those they serve. Servants are told what to do, so if no one can tell you what to do, you are not a servant, but a master.”
Do you aspire to be a servant leader? If so, make sure that you answer to someone other than only yourself. This is an important part of leading with humble intelligence and we’ll talk much more about it in the months to come.
Lead well.