The Heart of a Leader

"Being a Master leader means being a Master Servant." 

~ Bishop Teresa Snorton

People often are placed in positions of leadership at unsuspecting times.  Even if they have some skills or have done so in other arenas before, there is typically a moment of hesitation of how to proceed on certain decisions. These new facilitators will first seek counsel and advice from mentors in order to determine the best possible options.  However, what most people find that in order to really lead, to guide people to a goal, they must understand what it is to be apart of the group with whom they are working.

Same is the case in our lives when moving to the next level or into a new opportunity. We are excited about the possibilities or nervous about what comes next, but feel like we have an initial learning curve.  Whether it is writing the first book, starting a new position or moving to a new place, those first moments are taken tentatively.  We search for ways to make it as familiar as possible to our old situation – we decorate the space, start the meeting with a quote or bring our favorite lamp into the writing area.  We try to bring a little of ourselves until we can integrate the styles as quickly as possible, hoping that, by the time the first month is over, things have smoothed out just a little.

The best way of being a good leader, perhaps, is by being a great servant. There is something to be said about attending to the needs of even the lowest position in the company or the smallest person in the household. This is not the same as conforming, yielding to all wishes or making sure everyone gets everything that they want. It is about taking care of the needs. Matthew 25:40 reads, “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. ’” Leading is less about being perfect and more about anticipating how a group will need to be serviced before that time comes.   Those we lead are a plant: add water before it begins to droop; give it proper sunshine so that it will grow; every now and then add that special fertilizer to give little boost; have someone look after it in your absence; and anticipating when the regiment will need to change.

Moreover, if we have to be a servant to be a great leader, we must also handle our needs.   We can not serve if we are not listening and paying attention to all the whispers of our body’s requests for food and water, our mind’s requirements of sleep, our spirit’s desire to be restored, refreshed and renewed after a long work week.  We cannot serve if we have not given ourselves the necessary structure and organization to have a way of sustaining our own future.  Yes, leadership is tricky, but can be navigated, if we learn the best ways of serving - the repayment and reward are blessing from our own lives and loyalty from those all around us.

Let’s consider this week where we have been designated a leader and see how we can be better servants in those capacities.