What Do I Do Now?
At the time of this article, most of the world is sheltering in place. But I’m writing this for both this particular situation and, hopefully, beyond.
Michele Cushatt, author and speaker, has been diagnosed with tongue cancer three times. Eventually, doctors had to cut out part of her tongue to stop the effects of the disease. As a speaker, you can imagine that Michele’s livelihood is now at stake. She speaks with a noticeable lisp. Michele is a living example of having what you might deem the “best” of you literally cut out of your life. If anyone was asking the question, “what do I do now?,” it was Michele. However, this cancer that is a consistent reminder of what was trying to destroy her, has become her launching pad. Soon, she realized this fantastic truth:
“If you can lose it, it’s not who you are.”
Many people aren’t doing much right now, meaning they aren’t doing what they would typically do to showcase their leadership. I’ve made over 400 phone calls since the beginning of this crisis, and one of the major themes I have heard is how ineffective people feel about how they are serving others. It’s as if they were really saying that if they weren’t doing what they are used to doing, then they aren’t truly serving. The majority of the people I got the opportunity to talk to consider themselves servant leaders. So the prevailing question here is if you cannot do whatever it is you do, does it mean you can’t be a servant leader?
Servant leadership is not what you do. You can be a leader, no matter where you are or what you are doing. The Nine Servant Leadership Behaviors are a prime example of what a servant leader should be doing during situations like Covid-19. The answer to what leaders should be doing now is in character and behavior that drives a person to particular actions. Servant leaders should be thriving in situations where physical work seems to be at it’s lowest. Leadership is influence, according to John C. Maxwell, but eventually, leadership needs to do something.
If we look to be influential during this time, we can leverage and resource our abilities. Yes, the positions and routines we had are lost right now; but that is not who you are as a servant leader. That might be the toughest thing to deal with at this time, especially if you have hung your hat on the hooks of servant leadership for any length of time. A servant leader shouldn’t feel helpless. This should be our time to shine! Borrowing from the Nine Behaviors of a Servant Leader, here are a few ideas to shift from doing servant leadership to being a servant leader during Covid-19.
Demonstrate courage by thinking about your thinking: It is possible that you haven’t stepped up as a servant leader right now because you think servant leadership is what you do. It’s time to realize that thinking that way is holding you back from your true potential.
Increase your influence through building trust: It may look different for you than it does for me. There are those that have lost trust and faith in whatever system they have believed in; job, government, faith community, etc. I made phone calls. For you, it can be different and more impactful based on who you serve.
Value others by listening to understand: One of my calls was with a young lady who had started this incredible relationship, but once Covid hit, lockdown procedures began, and communication went south. What they heard is how valuable the tasks the other person does in their vocation, not who the person is outside of what they do. Have you been valuing others by hearing and understanding them?
Live your transformation by living your values: We cannot quit being who we are. If who you are is attached to what you do; then that isn’t you. If being a servant leader is in your job description, when the job goes awry, then you may not live out the behaviors. Make servant leadership your value and embody these behaviors in all you do.
Go to www.impactservantleadership.com and click on our offerings to see what assistance we can provide. Visit www.servantleadershipinstitute.com to take a more in-depth look at the nine behaviors of a servant leader. In a time of isolation, placing identity in what you do will leave you unfulfilled. Don’t go it alone. We are in this together, and we stand ready to pronounce who you genuinely are, servant leader!
Lyle Tard
LYLE TARD is the Founder and CEO of IMPACT Servant Leadership, started in 2018. He has recently retired from active military service in the U.S. Air Force where he served honorably for more than 20 years. Lyle is currently making a difference as a leadership and career coach and consultant.