One change often leads to another, so we realized SLI’s logo was due for a change as well. Our new logo is symbolized by the upside down organizational chart.
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Along your servant leadership journey you will ask yourself, “How do I add value to those around me?” This 6th behavior goes hand in hand with serving first: how can you give your all to serve those around you and add value to their lives?
Once long ago, I was appointed to be a student teacher for a class of highly rambunctious 5th graders. There I was, bright and shiny showing up to change the lives of these young kids (or so I thought).
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To think about your thinking, you need to look deep within yourself and discover who you are and why you think the way you do.
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The 1970 movie “Love Story” spawned a new catch phase in American culture: “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” Not being Erich Segal, the novelist and screenwriter, I can only speculate what he meant was when you deeply love someone, they know you so well and know your intent so well that they overlook your offenses because they understand your true feelings.
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Recently, my family and I have been on a journey we never imagined would take place. Two months ago, my 28-year-old seemingly healthy son went in for a CT scan, as he was experiencing pain in his throat and jaw.
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Whether you’re an avid talker or think you’re a pretty good listener, listening to understand takes practice and dedication to truly commit to the matter at hand, really listening to those who are talking to you.
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When you think about living your values, first define what your values are. Think about what has meaning in your life, what you are passionate about and what qualities are important to you. These values could be anything from respect and accountability to communication and service.
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“Self-trust is the first secret of success … the essence of heroism.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson What are the reasons for trusting someone?
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“The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.”The need for authority is all too frequent in today’s society.
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Why is it that we need to be right? To prove our point. To say I told you so. To make others feel lesser. Whether it’s in a serious disagreement or a casual conversation, there’s always room for differing opinions. This is okay and also a great opportunity for growth.
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When Art Barter became CEO of Datron World Communications in 2004, the manufacturer of radio communications equipment had revenues of about $10 million with very little profit. Just seven years later, Datron’s revenues exceeded $200 million with substantial profit. And that was with no acquisitions, no debt, and with largely the same management team.
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Diving into the life and leadership of serving first
What is servant leadership? Is it an idea, a concept or a way of life? Is servant leadership something you do, say or act out? Is it just related to the workplace or can it be applied to your personal life, too?
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I’ve been leading in professional settings for forty years. Many times over those decades I have heard what seems to be the truest voice of my heart say, I want to be a good leader—a servant leader. I want people to experience my leadership as for their good.
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Lessons about leadership come in many forms and during many different situations. Consider the following story from a man we’ll call Bill. On a recent Sunday evening, the wind was howling with gusts up to 60 mph. It blew so hard that an eight-inch diameter branch from the Jacaranda tree in my front yard snapped and landed on the corner of my roof.
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Being truly effective at work is no picnic; sometimes the challenges can be daunting. The story that follows came from a friend and colleague of mine. If you’re brave enough to admit it, this could be you.
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I ran across an intriguing article the other day in my local newspaper. The article highlighted a company that believes in and practices putting their people first. Personally, I have enjoyed a great relationship with this company and, from where I sit, they’re doing things right.
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When my kids were young, I was fully dedicated to my career. I had made it a higher priority than my own family and even my health. On weekends, all I wanted to do was spend time recovering mentally and physically from my hard work all week.
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Not long ago, I was sitting at church and our pastor was preaching on the subject of purpose in life. He noted he used technology to get answers as part of preparing his sermon. An iPhone user, he asked Siri how he could find his purpose in life. Siri searched the web and brought up several recommendations, including several religions to try.
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What follows is an excerpt from Farmer Able, a new leadership fable that speaks to the heart of servant leadership. We invite you to see what’s happening down on the farm.
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