For many being elevated to a position of leadership, whether it’s in or out of the Lodge, is a moment of personal satisfaction. It's a moment where you get to reap the benefits of the hard work you've put in, a chance to be recognized for your achievements, and a time when you realize that your efforts to help others is just really beginning.
There are many in this world who don't understand just what a servant leader is. They feel that anyone in a position of power and authority will use that position for their own betterment and those they would like to see gain something as well. It is something that truly saddens me as when you think about it, it is more a reflection of the individual making an assumption rather than taking the time to look and see what is going on.
I know there are many out there walk the walk of taking what they can and care little for those around them. I know that they will look to get ahead by stepping on others to give them that step up the ladder they are looking for. All we need to do is turn on the news or look at the business section of the paper or website and you'll see it right there in front of you. Any given day of the week you can find a story of how a bigger fish swallowed a smaller one just so they can keep their position, the lawsuits over who owns what intellectual property, and even stories about those that feel they have been wronged by others.
You can continue to see those things, or you can decide to change your attitude and direction, and strive to become a servant leader.
The concept is simple, put others before yourself. You take the time to help others without looking for a payment, honors, or even the recognition that you've stretched forth your hand. As I said, the concept is simple, in practice, it is anything but.
It is in our very nature to "toot our own horns," we want to tell others about what we've done and accomplished. We want the world to see all we have done and honor us for it. At our places of employment we spend time every year having a conversation with our immediate manager to go over everything we've accomplished and justify what we didn't, all so we can be ranked, classified, and a determination can be made whether to pay us more money or even continue our employment.
A servant leader looks beyond those things. A servant leader looks at what needs to be done, does it, and then moves onto the next thing that needs doing. They don't ask for thanks, it doesn't matter, although if given it will be accepted.
A servant leader is also not necessarily someone that is in a position of authority as the two are not the same, and a topic for another musings. You can be leader without having the authority granted to you by someone else. A leader strives to do what's best for the collective and others follow, they inspire us to become better, to be more. A servant leader does that by giving of themselves and to help others achieve more. It is not unlike a mentor who sees his student surpass him, smiles, and then moves onto the next student in need of help, all the while hoping that his previous students will one day enjoy the feeling of seeing someone they've helped reach new heights.
The challenge to each one of us is to become that servant leader, to aspire to bring out the greatness of others while not trying to use that as a way to increase our own lot in life.
A servant leader is something we should all aspire to be.