There have been volumes written on what it takes to be a leader, or the traits which all leaders must possess! I’ve read many of the books, gone to workshops, and read countless articles online in the hope that I will find that one thing which I might be missing in my quest to be a great leader. It is all wonderful information, and it’s true that there are specific things which great leaders share in common, at least most of them. However, I got to thinking about taking this to another level and found that among the greatest leaders, and by that I mean servant-leaders, one can better differentiate between the run-of-the-mill leader and the cream of the crop not by what they do, but what they won’t do. Run-of-the-mill leaders simply won’t do certain types of activities, while the servant-leader will. Here’s an example.
A while back I was going about my day-to-day tasks while serving as one of the pastors of my church. I’m the type who will basically do whatever it takes to accomplish our shared mission, so I don’t get concerned with whether or not something is in my job description or if there might be someone else to whom I could delegate less-desired jobs. I just keep my eyes open and take care of what must be done. On that particular day, I was cleaning up after an event, I believe carrying a couple bags of trash to be dumped. Someone I didn’t know saw me and came over and mistakenly started to give me instructions as if they thought I was part of the custodial staff instead of one of the pastors. was obvious that this person had no idea that I was one of the pastors, but instead of correcting them, I did as they requested and went on with my work.
Here’s the point. Most of us have known people in a position of leadership who have set boundaries on what kinds of things they will do. Some believe that there are tasks which are below their pay scale, others feel they have done their time, and even worse, some will lord over others the fact that they are in a position of power and influence. All of these traits are what I would see as disqualifiers for someone who wants to be a servant-leader, or any leader of people, for that matter. I believe that the more things someone is unwilling to do because they are beneath them, the less and less they have earned the right and privilege of being in leadership.
I have a colleague who is a true servant-leader. He will do whatever it takes to get the job done, whether it be a menial task, cleaning up after an event, or leading a hundred volunteers to do a high-profile project. He does it all with the same positive attitude and willingness to be a servant to the people he leads. I bet he could be mistaken at times, just like I have been.
So, when’s the last time you were mistaken for a position below your pay grade? I would venture to say that the answer will determine if you are merely a good leader, or a great servant-leader.
Lead well.