In my last blog entry, “How Do You Define Success?” we
introduced a model of leadership taught by Jesus: A leader’s role should be
that of a servant. This week let’s examine the concept of servant leadership a
little further.
What is the purpose of a king? What is the job of a
president? Is the coach the head of the football team—the manager the leader of
the baseball team? What is the role of a CEO, a general, a politician, a
pastor? All of these positions are occupations of leadership. What then is a
leader?
Contemporary leadership scholars emphasize three aspects of
leadership activity that effective leadership must recognize and address: the
leader, the follower and the context. Leadership always involves relationships
with followers. No follower, no leadership. A leader relates to other people
and the nature of this relationship is part of his or her success. Further, all
leadership happens in some sort of context, i.e., the place, time,
circumstances, etc. Because they are always different and changing, the nature
of leadership is always fluid and responsive to these changing factors.
Coupling these aspects of leadership together with the
concept of slavery and service as positive requisites of leadership causes us
to look afresh at what really constitutes leadership. If a king or a president
or a CEO or a pastor sees their role only as one of authority, or as a position
to bring themselves wealth, power, exultation, etc.—they are missing the mark
of a leader. A football coach or a baseball manager’s job is to bring out the
best abilities of the athletes under his supervision and to build them into a
well functioning team. The manager is a servant to the team she leads; helping
to coach, teach, prod and encourage each team member to their best potential.
Kings, presidents, CEO’s and pastors should see their roles in the same light.
A leader is a servant to those he leads.
Don Howell (2003) notes, “The great leaders of the Old
Testament are commonly designated ‘servant of the Lord.’ This is the title of
honor par excellence for those who discover a joyful abandonment to the will of
the Lord” (p. 7).[1]
Therefore, I see that a leader not only serves those over whom he has
authority, but also is a servant to whomever is in authority over him. With
these considerations I am challenged anew to recognize that my leadership
requires me to be a servant first and always to my Lord and also to those over
whom my Lord has given me charge.
[1] Howell,
Don N. Jr. Servants of the Servant, A biblical theology of leadership. Eugene : Wipf & Stock
Publishers, 2003