A Leader's Serving Heart

A successful leader must have a serving heart. Are you thinking what is she talking about? I will explain my thoughts on a serving heart. As a leader of a small group, I am not in a position to dominate people, maneuver them, brow beat them or to manipulate them, but there to serve them. One of the best things we can do as a leader is give of ourselves to others. One of my final assignments during college was to write a lengthy paper on what I thought my purpose was in relation to business management. I wrote that my purpose was to serve others. Ironically, since I wrote that paper I have been fulfilling more and more of that purpose. This is not a short term goal or long term goal to be reached but a lifelong goal to continually pursue. I think if we lead others with a serving heart, we can make a difference. We may only make a difference for one person but it’s that one time that otherwise might have never happened. I worked with a special lady for seven years and learned a great deal from her. At the time I did not realize I was learning, but I have come to realize how much she taught me especially about having a serving heart over the last few years. She was not in a leadership position but one doesn't have to be in a position to be a leader. You can lead from anywhere in an organization. She was and still is a wonderful role model to those that know her. She made a valuable contribution to my career. She believed in me, took me under her wing and gave of her serving heart. By doing so, she help me grow and develop into a leader. To me, there is not a better example of a serving heart than hers. I enjoy reads from Coach John Wooden and Coach Bear Bryant. These were two fantastic leaders not to mention coaches. Coach Bryant had a serving heart (read Bear Bryant on Leadership by Pat Williams). “Coach Bryant said to me, ‘Marty, give of yourself so others can grow.” – Marty Lyons, Alabama defensive tackle, 1975-78. Are we truly giving of ourselves to make others grow? I have pondered upon this question to myself multiple times especially over the last few weeks. I looked inside my heart to realize that I was not doing enough for those I lead. Since then, I have dug into some deep reading material, made a list of new goals and objectives in order do better serving those that rely on my leadership. It is my desire to do whatever it takes to make my team members grow and develop their leadership qualities. In my opinion, anyone that desires to be good leader can be one if they give it their best and develop leadership skills. There are others that can be great leaders because they desire to be better than the best. My goal is to help others be the best or better than the best. It all starts by having a serving heart. I will end with this quote from George Washington Carver, “It is not the style of clothes one wears, neither the kind of automobile one drives, nor the amount of money one has in the bank that counts. These mean nothing. It is simply service that measures success.” I believe a serving heart can make a difference in the success of those we lead. It certainly made a positive impact on my career twenty two years ago.