If you do a quick Google search, or even better, search Amazon, you will see a myriad of material written about servant leadership. Licioni, Maxwell, Covey, Collins, etc. I suppose you could read a book a week on servant leadership for several years and still not exhaust the written material available on the subject. As I read through Luke, Jesus says the following:
Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”
Luke 9:48
Jesus uses the phrase “gentle and lowly” in Matt. 11:29
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matt. 11:29
These indicate an attitude of servanthood. You before me. How can I serve rather than be served?
Some lead with a heavy hand thinking people will respect their “strong” leadership. I know a guy who said, “It’s my job to make sure the right people are in the right seats on the bus. Since I’m driving the bus, they can listen, or get off the bus!” He may not have realized his comments and attitude were keeping healthy believers off his bus. HeavyHand needed to be in charge.
Some think they are leading well, yet micro-manage every decision being made. The believer being led feels like everything they do is wrong and the only one who can make the correct decision is the micro-manager. MicroManager’s needed to make all the decisions.
Some provide management, but no leadership. Everything is reactionary. Frustration sets in on both sides, one gets burnt on following a manager (being managed) and the other gets burnt on managing. Manager’s needed to feel needed at every turn.
It’s all very self-centered. Jesus’ words to his disciples in Luke 9 had to have been a shock. Here they are, arguing about who is greatest among them and Jesus takes a nearby child, sets him/her before them and says, “whoever receives this child in my name receives me…he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”
Servant leadership is leading with the least of these in mind. This leadership helps the “least of these” not only see their value before the Lord but places them in a position to do well and flourish.
Servant Leadership brags on others. It includes the introvert in conversation and allows the uber-extrovert space to go overboard from time to time. It shows grace when undeserved, kindness rather than the snarky comment and brings a brother or sister alongside to watch and learn rather than expecting them to understand on their own.
A servant leader plants today for future growth tomorrow. The servant leader sees a glimmer of potential in another believer, not because of what you can see on the outside, but from how you know God loves to give His children good gifts and that His gifts transform His children into what He wants when He wants.
Servant leaders place others above themselves and help others as they mature in their faith; providing them time and practice to grow.
The servant leader is neither heavy-handed, nor a micro-manager, nor a manager. He/she is a servant. They fall at the feet of Jesus and ask Him how to love and disciple the high achiever, the anxious friend, or the chronically late friend.
Servant leadership takes into account the fact that each person is designed as a unique image bearer of God. Those who are believers have gifts that have been given to them for use in the body. Those who are not believers (and believers too!) have natural talents and some they have honed from years of practice and skill. Healthy leaders recognize God made people in a variety of ways. They desire to serve and not be served. They think of others first. They are desire to be “gentle and lowly.” Healthy leaders are Christ-like.
Toby DeHay 