"Healing Leadership"

Juditith Sturnick is the author of the fifteenth chapter of Insights on Leadership titled "Healing Leadership".

She defines “healing leadership” as having “meaning on two levels: restoring our leaders by bringing them back to emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and physical health; and from the wisdom and insight gained through that healing process to provide, in turn, leadership that heals and transforms the quality of life and work within our organizations.”

In order to lead effectively, one needs to be healthy. The goal of effective leadership is to help the community heal so that it can become whole.

Servant Leadership even at Oxford!

Hello everyone! It looks like Tom has been doing a great job filling in while I am here at Christ Church in Oxford studying - Thanks Tom!

There is much to tell you, which I will share when I return. I will say that I was in two courses this last week and it has been quite demanding, which is why it has taken me so long to get on and write.

In addition, we had a plenary lecture given by Rev. Canon Dr. Vincent Strudwick titled 'Religion and the Market State.' At the end of his lecture (again, which I will share when I return) he was asked how religion today is to respond to the globalization of the world. His response: One of the best ways, I think, is by becoming better servant-leaders.

This, of course, very much intrigued me. I had the opportunity to speak with Vincent the following day and inquired about his knowledge of Robert Greenleaf's work. He responded: Well, you can't really understand Servant Leadership without reading and understanding Greenleaf, can you? Well, we spoke for quite a long time after this and he mentioned that there are quite a few around the University of Oxford who are quite interested in Servant Leadership!

For those who think Servant Leadership cannot have an impact upon churches and organizations, it may be time to admit that this is an understanding of leadership that is not only not going away, it is reaching the pinnacle of higher education in the world - the University of Oxford!

Our Leaders are but trusted Servants.

My first introduction to the practice of servant leadership occurred while attending “Twelve Step” meetings. It was in these meetings where I learned about Tradition Two from Alcoholics Anonymous, which in part states “Our Leaders are but trusted servants, they do not govern.” The Twelve Traditions are a set of guidelines for how AA groups and the organization as a whole operate. After seeing how successful these Twelve Step organizations were in helping the individual members to grow, I was intrigued to learn more about Servant Leadership.

Through the Servant-Leadership Blog, I learned about Don Frick’s amazing biography on Robert Greenleaf. Among the many fascinating insights on the life of Greenleaf, one connection I found interesting was his friendship with Bill Wilson, better known as “Bill W” one of the founders of AA.

It is through my experience in seeing the true power of servant leadership in the “meetings” that I continue to have hope that trying to practice servant leadership “in all my affairs”, per the Twelfth Step, does make life much more interesting.

And those are my thoughts on servant leadership for the day.

The Law of Service

In Herman Hess’s novel Journey To The East, the character Leo defines the Law of Service as, “He who wishes to live long must serve, but he who wishes to rule does not live long.”

In response, the character H.H. asks, “Then why do so many strive to rule?”

Leo replies, “Because they do not understand. There are few who are born to be masters; they remain happy and healthy. But all the others who have only become masters through endeavor, end in nothing.”

It seems that this rule is about finding meaning in life, which is really what happiness and healthiness are all about. True meaning comes from a life of service, not from a life of control or domination. Striving to rule is indeed, a source of much strife in the world today.

"Followership in a Leadership World"

Robert E. Kelly wrote the 14th Chapter in Insights on Leadership. His essay is one of my favorites from the book and is titled “Followership in a Leadership World”.

I recently picked up a copy of Herman Hess’s book the Journey To The East in order to learn more about the character that played a part in Greenleaf’s Servant Leadership concepts. In his essay, Kelly interprets Hess’s character in an interesting manner.

Kelly writes, “Leo is the quintessential exemplary follower, the kind of person that no leader or group can succeed without. Leo knew what it took for the journey to proceed. He willingly did the tough work without any glory. He did not demand the limelight or constant praise. Leo was content with his role as servant”

Finding myself, much more often in the follower role that in the more glamorous leadership role, I can relate to this view of Leo. It is a great reminder that follower-ship is as important, if not more important than leadership, for a leader with out followers can accomplish very little. Followers get the work done and they get it done in a meaningful way.

“Within Our Reach: Servant-Leadership for the Twenty-first Century.”

The thirteenth essay in Insight on Leadership was coauthored by Bill Bottum and Dorothy Lenz and is titled “Within Our Reach: Servant-Leadership for the Twenty-first Century.” Bill Bottum was CEO of Townsend and Bottom, Inc. that was involved primarily in the construction of power plants around the world. He passed away on February 14, 2005. Dorothy Lenz is a minister emeritus at the First Congregational Church in Ann Arbor Michigan.

Their essay was built around what they called the “Guiding Principles for Business Based on the Beatitudes.” These principles included: "1. Self-transcendence, 2. Service Sensitivity to needs of others, 3. Commitment to values, 4. Achievement, productivity, 5. Nurturing the positive in people, 6. Integrity, 7. Team building, peacemaking, 8. Growth through adversity, endurance.”

Whatever ones religious believes may be it is easy to see that the “Sermon on the Mount” is full of servant leadership wisdom that we are still in need of learning today.

“Servant-Leadership and Enterprise Strategy”

With Trevor out of the Country, I thought I might pickup my annotations from the book Insights on Leadership.

Jill Graham, associate professor of management at Loyola University in Chicago, authored the twelfth chapter in the book. Her essay titled “Servant-Leadership and Enterprise Strategy” includes many noteworthy quotations, but two that stood out included:

“participating stakeholders, encouraged by the servant-leaders, are responsible both for inquiring about those of others-the object being to serve in a balanced way all those needs and interests that do not violate moral injunctions such as not harming others”

“Selfishness, in-group myopia, naïve gullibility, and complacent confidence in the perpetual adequacy of the status quo all are lessened when people are challenged, motivated, and empowered to assess and balance interests of all stakeholders in terms of universal moral principles; and to think creatively about innovative adaptations to enhance their organization’s ability to serve all its stakeholder interests over the long term.”

These quotes are good reminders that the goal of servant-leadership run organizations should be the production of positive benefits to all of those affected.

Missing my 1st anniversary

Not my wedding anniversary - if I did that you'd probably never hear from me again! I'm going to be missing my 1 year anniversary of starting the Servant Leadership Blog, which is Sunday, July 23rd. I leave today to spend the next couple of weeks at Christ Church, which is the largest college in the University of Oxford, to finish my doctoral classes. I'm hoping to occasionally blog while across the pond, but will not know for sure how it will fit into my schedule until I get there. Please keep checking in, as Don & Tom may have something to add over the next few weeks as well.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU, it has been an amazing year. When I started I set a goal of 365 posts in the first year and 250 readers. I fell just short of both: This is the 333rd post with a solid 225 readers each day! Again THANK YOU!

Part of the success, I am convinced, is because of the excellent work that my colleagues have written. Don Frick, who is now a member of the Viterbo Faculty and directing our proposed PhD in Ethical Leadership, has taught me so much about Greenleaf and Servant Leadership along the way. And Tom Jablonski, a graduate of our MA in Servant Leadership program, demonstrates each time he writes the quality of reflective individuals that participate in our program. To both of them, I owe a big THANK YOU!

There are many things I want to improve upon as we enter our 2nd year of blogging. First, I hope to find a few more servant-leaders to join our writing staff. I want the blog to be a resource for people who want to better understand Servant Leadership, and to do this effectively I think it is in our best interest to expand our core team of writers. I also hope to add a few podcasts as well. You may see a few test ones over the next few months - we'll see how much interest there is in this feature.

What a great year it has been. Please keep coming back, sending me e-mails, commenting on the blog - it is what makes this such a joy. I hope to be writing from Oxford soon!

The Best Test and Organizations

Yesterday I mentioned Greenleaf's best test: do those served grow as persons; do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants?

As I look at organizations today, I am disappointed at how often this advice is ignored. There are far too many institutions who have no interest in the growth of those being led. If a manager runs an efficient department (profitability is usually the only factor here) then a promotion is not far behind.

Wouldn't it be far better to promote based on the growth of the people in the department? Suzy is taking on more responsibility; John has become a trainer; Jill went back to school, finished her degree, and got a promotion within the organization; Amy used to be very cynical about her work but is now encouraging others to apply.

If organizations rewarded managers and leaders based on the growth of the people in the department, how different would corporate america look? And if this was the test applied, could profits be far behind?

George Fox, Robert Greenleaf, and Service to Seekers

Those of you who frequent the blog are quite familiar with Greenleaf's famous 'Best Test' quote. It goes something similiar to this:

Servant Leadership begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. The best test, and most difficult to administer, is: do those served grow as persons; do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants?

It seems that Greenleaf did indeed measure people by this little "litmus test." One such person was the great Quaker George Fox. Greenleaf held Fox in very high regard, but not for the reason that many others look up to him. In Seeker and Servant Greenleaf says this:

What made George Fox's service to seekers (and their response to him) so examplary was the significant move to new and more exacting ethical standards, the force of which carries to this day. Fox's major contribution was not his theology, nor even his encouragement to care for suffering - important as these were. Rather, it seems to me, what gave durability to the Quaker tradition was the practical result that so many of those who called themselves Friends behaved more lovingly toward all creatures and assumed an impressive level of responsibility for their society and its institutions. Perhaps the most innovative result was that, by the effort of those whom Fox inspired, the quality of some contempory institutions, notably commerce, was markedly improved.

Greenleaf's greatest impression was not based on the teachings or great works that Fox himself accomplished. Rather, Greenleaf was most impressed by the works and efforts of those whom Fox inspired.

How do we think of our idols and mentors? Are we most impressed with what they have accomplished or what those whom they have led have accomplished?

Welcome to Viterbo Don!

As you all know, it is an honor to have Don Frick as one of the contributors to this blog. If you have not yet read his biography of Robert Greenleaf, or checked out his amazing website dedicated to Servant Leadership, you should make the committment to do both today! Don's contributions to the blog, either as posts or comment, are always worth your time to read.

Well, I have some big news: Don Frick is now a Viterbo University employee! Last week Viterbo hired Don to work on our proposal to offer a PhD in Ethical Leadership. In addition, Don will be teaching in the Master of Arts in Servant Leadership program! We are extremely fortunate to have Don as part of our staff. Welcome! I'm looking forward to some great conversations!

The power of blogs

There are times when I post on the blog and wonder if anyone really connected with the message. It doesn't bother me at all - as a professor I've learned to deal with deafening silence! :-)

There are other times when I realize that my posts really resonated with people. Sometimes I get an e-mail, some comments on the blog, or even an occassional phone call!

There are other times when I get to read a post from someone who links to one of my posts. The other day, Steve Farber posted this entry referring to the quote from Abraham Heschel.

Blogs do indeed have a way of connecting us in amazing ways. And now I remember why I blog. Thanks Steve for the reminder!

More than lip service.......PLEASE!

I came across this group the other day: The Beatitudes Society. Immediately I was intrigued! When I read their "Who we are" statement, I felt an immediate connection:

"We are Christians who feel called to lives of servant leadership. Today, the dominant culture of Christian faith - one centered in nationalism, materialism and intolerance - bears no resemblance to the life and teachings of Jesus, particularly as they concern justice, poverty and peacemaking. We are on a lifelong journey of reflection and action to turn this world upside down. We invite those on a similar path to join us."

As I read further, I read about how they wanted to do an annual service trip to do Beatitudes work. GREAT!

And then my disappointment: I got to their reading list. While there is nothing wrong with the books on their reading list, I was more than a little frustrated that they did not have a single work by Greenleaf listed!

I have no problem with those who want to use the term 'servant leadership.' But not just because it is trendy! Use it because you agree with Greenleaf's teachings; use it because you want to others to become better servant-leaders. It's hard to do that, in my opinion, if you don't point people to Greenleaf's writings!

Decision-Making in churches

Here is something that Robert Greenleaf would have enjoyed discussing:

From the point of view of this article, it seems that there is quite a debate forming within the Southern Baptist church regarding the authority to make decisions. Many are frustrated with classic congregationalism and are turning instead to an 'elder-led' form of leadership. There are several reasons for it and the article does a good job of covering some of the difficulities in the various types of leadership seen within the Southern Baptist church today.

The best line is the last one: "Rather than sniping at each other, we ought to enter into serious conversations about these issues as Southern Baptists." Greenleaf, I'm sure, would agree!

Build a Life Like a Work of Art

Robert Greenleaf and Abraham Joshua Heschel became close friends late in life. Greenleaf was in his 60's when he first met Heschel. Greenleaf had gone to meet Heschel and invite him to speak to a group of business executives. They met several times to discuss this speaking proposal and from that developed a strong friendship.

Greenleaf later wrote about Heschel in his book Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness. He provided this quote of Heschel's:

"What message have you for young people?" asked Carl Stern of NBC in concluding a television interview with Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel shortly before his death on December 23, 1972.

Rabbi Heschel replied: "I would say: Let them remember that there is a meaning beyond absurdity. Let them be sure that every little deed counts, that every word has power, and that we can - every one - do our share to redeem the world in spite of all its absurditites and all frustrations and all disappointments. And above all, remember that the meaning of life is to build a life as if it were a work of art."

And some encouraging news.......

You may have heard about the recent arrests when some Coca Cola employees tried selling trade secrets to Pepsi. Why is this encouraging? Because Pepsi didn't bite on the offer - rather they immediately contacted Coca Cola who in turn contacted the FBI. With their help, a sting operation was put in place to arrest the three involved in the plot.

As a Pepsi spokesperson said: “We just did what any responsible company would do. Competition can be fierce, but it also needs to be fair.”

In a related story that puts a damper on the story yet is also worth reading, experts say that corporate theft is actually quite common. Who are these theives? Typically those who work for well-paid executives who usually believe they are unappreciated.

Some discouraging news......

Via the wonderful Slow Leadership Blog: Chris Bailey writes about the fact that many of America's institutions, including non-profits, practice a modern form of indentured servitute. The problem, Chris argues, is that most of the American workforce simply accept it as the best way to get ahead. You can read the entire post here.

Well said Chris! As servant-leaders we have a responsibility to look after our employees far beyond production numbers. This includes everything from taking time to thank them for their work and, as Chris points out, making sure those we serve and lead are taking the time off of work that they so richly deserve.

We can be agents of change in our organizations - it starts with taking an interest not only in our employees' roles but in their souls as well.

Declaring our own Independence

On this July 4th holiday, we celebrate 130 years since the Declaration of Independence was signed. While posting the Declaration yesterday I began wondering: What should servant-leaders be declaring our independence from?

• We should be declaring our independence from all forms of egoism in our lives;
• We should be declaring our independence from the intential closing of our eyes to the needs of others around us;
• We should be declaring our independence from those flipant remarks that we know sometimes hurt others;
• We should be declaring our independence from only giving lip service to being a servant-leader;
• We should be declaring our independence from those vices which keep us from being a more effective servant.

These are some of the declarations that I need to tackle on my journey to being a better servant-leader....perhaps some of them are yours as well.

What declarations of independence do YOU need to make?

Have a Happy & Safe 4th of July!

Many of us have not read this document since our 8th grade (or so) Civics class, if ever. As the Acton Institute PowerBlog points out, it's worth Rereading:

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred. to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

— John Hancock

New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut:
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York:
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey:
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware:
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland:
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia:
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia:
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton