Servant or Position Leader?

There are two types of leadership categories. One is servant and the other is position. Which category do you fall into? Let’s take a moment and review the two and as you read on, determine which category relates to you.

Position leadership is inward. What this means is that this type of leader has placed their position above everything else and everything is directed towards their position. A position leader is fed by the fact that he has achieved a certain level or title in the organization. His number one priority in his daily activities is to maintain or elevate this position. It is self centered and needs to be regularly fed. It is fed by reminding everyone around them what position they are in. It is fed by recognition of how successful they are by pointing out their accomplishments—whether theirs or somebody else’s. This type of leader has to have control over decisions, information, or anything of value because if they have it—somebody else doesn’t.

Servant leadership on the other hand is outward—it places all importance on the people. What their title may be is not relevant. Whether they get the recognition for a project or great accomplishment is not important. Whether they get the credit for being a good leader and being rewarded with a promotion is not their objective. A servant leader doesn’t mind if their team members submit presentations, reports, or communicate above them in the organizational structure. They do not have to have the best office or perks to accomplish their job. This type of leader doesn’t need to control or filter information flow and they never hold on to information that is not confidential.

A servant leader has one focus—their people and their success. A servant leader has the super natural ability to place everyone around them above them. This type of leader has the amazing ability to be transparent with their team. It is someone who shares information freely, displays weaknesses, apologizes for mistakes, and asks for grace, guidance, and help. A servant leader consistently asks his team how they are doing and what they need to be successful; versus what he needs from them so he can be successful. A servant leader has the canny ability to understand that his entire success is based wholly on his team’s success. It is never about him, it is always about them.

Servant leadership is not easy. The world around us is consistently teaching us that what we have or who we are equates to success. We are consistently challenged by activity around us that makes us wonder why not us. In any organization there is always someone who is being recognized, rewarded, or promoted which is a reminder of what we don’t have. It will be hard to ignore these temptations, but if you maintain your focus on those around you will achieve true success. There is not one great leader in history that did it with their title alone. They did it because there were people who were willing to do anything for them; because they believed in their hearts that their leader would do anything for them. George Washington (General), Abraham Lincoln (President), Winston Churchill (Prime Minister), Jack Welch (CEO), John Wooden (Head Basketball Coach) and the list goes on. These great leaders had one thing in common; they understood that it was all about the people around them, if they served them…amazing things could happen—and they did!