LEADERSHIP Series: Servant Leaders Await Praise

Servant-leadership is an expression of humility.

A great paradox is that this kind of leader is one who exercises authority, motivating people to willingly do what has been asked because of personal influence. They don’t do this for personal praise. They do it because they understand and share the vision, know the mission and make sure the team knows their roles and are driven by values that include other-orientation.

Authority is different than power. Power can be bought or sold and given or taken. Not so with authority. It is earned because of a person's character as expressed in their behavior.

Character is often best expressed in the rough-and-tumble of the street where selling, customer service and problem-solving takes place. When humility rules, successful case histories and testimonials can become a major part of your marketing communications program.

Effective market leaders drive further market penetration by developing “happy-user-stories” that powerfully tell of the results of the value your offering delivers. That result can be traced to the truth of the verse below – it is a universal truth.

Proverbs 27:2 (NIV) Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.

Christ has left us with the example of the behaviors of humility and servant-leadership. The result of His humble authority is still being felt today.

Is your authority as a leader being positively experience in your organization today?

For Further Study

Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell