Reasons for Embracing Servant-Leadership
I read this quote yesterday over on the Fast Company Blog:
Businesses can talk all this social responsibility stuff, but they are likely to do something about it only if there's an economic reason for them to do it."
---Bill Joy, founder, Sun Microsystems
My first reaction was to think of all those organizations out there practicing servant-leadership (and there are far too many to list) who are socially responsible first and foremost because it is the right thing to do. 'Ha, Mr. Joy,' I thought, 'you are wrong!'
My second reaction, a little more delayed, (probably because it was Monday - or perhaps because I'm just a little slow every day) was to wonder if all those practicing servant-leadership and who try to be socially responsible are doing so because they do see economic reasons/advantages in the practice. So perhaps Mr. Joy is not that far off after all. Perhaps by just removing the word 'only' from the statement it makes perfect sense. HMMMM.
What do you think? How far along would servant-leadership be if it had absolutely no economic impact on an organization? In other words, if institutions would not be any better or any worse off financially by embracing servant-leadership would there be any interest in it at all? Does it need to improve the bottom line for institutions to jump on board?
Businesses can talk all this social responsibility stuff, but they are likely to do something about it only if there's an economic reason for them to do it."
---Bill Joy, founder, Sun Microsystems
My first reaction was to think of all those organizations out there practicing servant-leadership (and there are far too many to list) who are socially responsible first and foremost because it is the right thing to do. 'Ha, Mr. Joy,' I thought, 'you are wrong!'
My second reaction, a little more delayed, (probably because it was Monday - or perhaps because I'm just a little slow every day) was to wonder if all those practicing servant-leadership and who try to be socially responsible are doing so because they do see economic reasons/advantages in the practice. So perhaps Mr. Joy is not that far off after all. Perhaps by just removing the word 'only' from the statement it makes perfect sense. HMMMM.
What do you think? How far along would servant-leadership be if it had absolutely no economic impact on an organization? In other words, if institutions would not be any better or any worse off financially by embracing servant-leadership would there be any interest in it at all? Does it need to improve the bottom line for institutions to jump on board?
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