Servant Leadership Paul and Christina Semmens 6 February 2010
Words There have been millions of words written in an effort to define leadership I would suggest that the fundamentals of good leadership are universal whatever you label them Leaders are different than managers; but managers & positional leaders lead as well the issue is how they do it & what is important Leadership is a function of who we are and where we are As Catholics, we are called upon to build the Kingdom; to conduct our lives in truth and justice The core of all great leaders is within They suck people forward with them The issue is what are our core values as Catholics & how do we apply them to a leadership model
Outline Definition of Leadership Defining leadership by Comparison Leader Competencies Leadership Styles Leadership Case Studies Practice Exercise How to be a Christian Leader
Leadership Definition (noun) leader: a person who rules or guides or inspires others (noun) leadership, leading the activity of leading "his leadership inspired the team. The Army defines leadership as influencing people by providing purpose, direction, and motivation, while operating to accomplish the mission and improve the organization. Army Regulation 600-100, 8 Mar 07 (noun) Knight A medieval gentleman-soldier, usually high-born, raised by a sovereign to privileged military status after training as a page and squire A man holding a nonhereditary title conferred by a sovereign in recognition of personal merit or service to the country A man belonging to an order or brotherhood, a defender, champion, or zealous upholder of a cause or principle The devoted champion of a lady
Leader-Manager Comparison Subject Have Horizon Appeal to Energy Persuasion Style Risks Truth Credit Leaders Followers Long term Heart Passion Sell Transformational Takes Seeks Gives It is all about Leader Core Values! Managers Subordinates Short Term Head Control Tell Transactional Avoids Establishes Takes
Leader Competencies-Expectations Every big Organization has leader competencies Expectations on how the organization s leaders are to behave *rights of passage] These competencies are based on the organization s mission and experience All leader competencies are organized into the same general categories: Individual traits of the leader Traits associated with task accomplishment
Leader Competencies Individual Traits-those associated with the Leader him/her self Character Traits: Integrity, Judgment, Initiative, Loyalty, Unselfishness, Self Knowledge, Trust Leader Performance: Tenacity, Knowledge, Courage, Enthusiasm, Decisiveness, Dependability, Flexibility People Skills: Tact, communications [to include listening]; team building/coaching skills Performance Traits: Vision Getting results Improving the organization
Leadership Styles Leadership Spectrum Positional {Self Serving?} Servant Most Leaders operate in the Middle Somewhere!
Servant Leader-Positional Leader Comparison Subject Have Horizon Appeal to Energy Persuasion Style Risks Truth Credit Servant Leaders Followers Long term Heart Passion Sell Transformational Takes Seeks Gives Positional Leaders Subordinates Short Term Head Control Tell Transactional Avoids Establishes Takes
St. John the So..the Baptist Leadership Template Has many Components Environment Where We Are Performance Traits Individual Traits Core Values What We Do Who We Are
Leadership is a Function of Who We Are & Where we are Male Initiation (Teens) Wild Man to Wise Man Father Richard Rohr Idealism Exp Power Necessary Egotism Work, delayed gratification Immaturity Righteousness Sacrifice Self Identity Sense of boundaries Begins to let go of self Crisis of Limitation (Ages 40-65) Inner loss of meaning Sometimes failure Attempts to regain control Confronts limits Being a warrior or hero doesn t work Loss self control Lets go Patience, compassion, Dark Night of Faith Secure enough to be insecure Redefinition of success Prayer essential Improving self knowledge Journey of Embitterment Confrontation, no enlightenment Looking to blame Holy Fool God in charge Return to simplicity Being human more important than control, power, possessions
Some Final Leader Thoughts Regard your soldiers as your children and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death. If, however, you are indulgent, but unable to make your authority felt then your soldiers must be likened to spoiled children; they are useless for any practical purpose. Sun Tzu, The Art of War Leaders Need to Get the Job Done!
Leadership Case Studies
Core Values: Vince Lombardi Servant leader or authoritative leader? Staunch Catholic; man of integrity I firmly believe that any man s finest hour is that moment when he has to work his heart out in a good cause and he s exhausted on the field of battle victorious. Individual Leadership Traits: Tore players down and then built them up Players respected him Performance Traits: Winning is not a sometime thing, it s an all the time thing. The object is to win fairly, squarely, by the rulesbut to win. Five time NFL Champion
Martin Luther King Servant leader or authoritative leader? Core Values: Leaders must be willing to learn Incredible integrity, courage & tenacity Individual Leadership Traits: Leaders must lead Stood up for what he thought was right Incredible patience in the face of adversity Performance Traits: Communicated his vision Resolved interpersonal and intrapersonal conflicts with dignity and Christian love He had a vision based on principles I have a dream
St Ignatius of Loyola 1491-1556 Servant leader or authoritative leader? Core Traits: Strong belief in service for the greater glory of God Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam Saw Church as Christ on Earth and the Jesuits swore obedience to the Pope Initiative-saw the need for Jesuits to serve God in the world but not be of the world Believed self knowledge was of utmost importance-the Daily Examen Individual Traits: Created a climate of flexibility Magis Had a ceaseless effort to do better, achieve more Performance Traits Instituted a structured training program and Guide for the Order Practiced delegation Preached detachment The Jesuits have lasted for 450 Years Great vision; trained and provided staff for the emerging Universities in the 16 th century
St Teresa Of Avila 1515-1582 Servant Leader or Authoritative Leader? Core Values: She set the example in her prayer life, her persistence against her personal struggles and her battles to reform Believed she existed to do God s will Beautiful, adaptable, courageous; totally human Individual Traits: Very decisive when God called, she went A shrewd businesswoman in a man s world Very affectionate, outgoing and enthusiastic Performance Traits: Wrote and travelled extensively to teach her sisters in the 17 convents she formed Returned the Carmelites to their core values despite extensive criticism and persecution Became the first female Doctor of the Church
John R. Galvin Servant Leader or Authoritative Leader? Core Values Gentleman in every regard-never lost his temper Individual Traits Wrote 50 General Officer notes a day thanking people Had the amazing ability to establish a personal relationship with a large number of people Wrote three very good military history books Performance Traits Retired as SACEUR Focused his Division on the mission Active in the community
Concluding thoughts on Leadership Truly great leaders guide their actions by their core values. As Catholics: We need frequent guidance from the Boss ; our Lord through the Holy Spirit Which we obtain from the establishment of a relationship with God called Prayer We need to understand that God put us where we are for a reason And exercise humility and patience in conducting our affairs based on TRUST We need to know ourselves, remain calm, not worry, based on the realization that we are not in charge, HE is Easy to verbalize, hard to execute takes practice Which will be challenged based on personal circumstances-where they are
The *Servant+ Leader s Path Will be often marked by times of trial Many managers establish the truth rather than seek it Servant leaders are often misunderstood; this leadership style requires constant communication and coaching Your definition of what s important can flow against the organizational standard It s hard work; it s easier to assign tasks and then blame It requires patience and humility: You might see the solution and want to make a change but the time may not be right-can cause frustration if your values aren t right It requires courage sometimes to debate rather than argue; to follow rather than having it your way Eating your ego [Service] is a lot less glamorous than being perceived as the stud leader but God know who His warriors are
Some Final Leader Thoughts Leadership in the military is vertical & horizontal Leaders lead & follow at the same time
Practical Exercise
Outline Definition of Leadership Leader-Manager Comparison Leader Competencies Leadership Styles Leadership Case Studies Principles of Servant Leadership Cultivating the Habits and Attitudes of a Servant Leader
Principles of Servant Leadership Relationships First Jesus is the epitome of the servant leader Modeled AND instructed Last Supper Pope John Paul II Modern scholarship The fundamental core of leadership is being a servant.
Principles of Servant Leadership Relationships First Fixed on Mission Unswerving focus on fulfilling the mission Mission will be accomplished despite the personal cost
Principles of Servant Leadership Relationships First Fixed on Mission Edging God Out vs Exalting God Only Self-centered Pride (promoting self) and Fear (protecting self) Separates, compares and distorts Who do I worship? What is my source of security and self-worth? Who is my audience and my judge?
Principles of Servant Leadership Edging God Out vs Exalting God Only God-centered Humility and Confidence Community and Fellowship Contentment and Generosity Trust and Truth Inspiration and Commitment Who do I worship? Who is my source of security and self-worth? Who is my audience and my judge?
Principles of Servant Leadership Relationships First Fixed on Mission Edging God Out vs Exalting God Only Vision and Application
Four Skills of Servant Leadership Intimacy Understanding that everyone is an unique blend of gifts, and despite common developmental stages, everyone develops differently Diagnosis Due to individual uniqueness, everyone has unique needs Flexibility Different stages of development (novice, apprentice, journeyman, master) require different types of leadership Partnering Frequent communication between leader and follower Understanding that the success of individual brings about the success of all All these skills are used in order to fulfill the mission.
Cultivating the Habits and Attitudes of a Servant Leader or Cultivating a Theology of the Head, Heart, Hands and Feet The faith journey is a transformative, life-long process Model to help you continuously grow and mature in your faith Different aspects of the journey may be emphasized at different times during your life Must be open to continuous change
Cultivating the Habits and Attitudes of a Servant Leader Theology of the Head, Heart, Hands and Feet Feet Practice solitude Heart Pray daily Worship and receive the sacraments regularly Consider sacramentals and devotions that flourish in the Church
Cultivating the Habits and Attitudes of a Servant Leader Theology of the Head, Heart, Hands and Feet Head Read Scripture Explore the lives and reflections of saints and Christian scholars Hands Accept and model unconditional love, humility and patience Serve others Build community
Cultivating the Habits and Attitudes of a Servant Leader Theology of the Head, Heart, Hands and Feet Feet Practice solitude Heart Pray daily Worship and receive the sacraments regularly Consider sacramentals and devotions that flourish in the Church Head Read Scripture Explore the lives and reflections of saints and Christian scholars Hands Accept and model unconditional love, humility and patience Serve others Build community
Practical Exercise Cultivating a Servant s HABITS (Activity 64) Habit Formation (Activity 65)