So many references to servant leadership assume that people who
exercise servitude do so in a selfless manner. And some would even
argue that servant leadership and selfless leadership are the same
thing. Presumably, any degree of service exemplifies some sacrifice
of the self; however, to obtain the full benefits and to truly
represent servant leadership, an understanding of SELFLESS must
coincide with servitude.
S: Serve without selfish motives. The gulf between
the servant and the selfless rests in personal motivation and
personal agendas within the individual. Serve with a sacrifice for
self. Serve without an agenda for reaping your own personal
rewards. Serve in truth - not just to satisfy the boss. Many would
be wise to recognize that while their service will be without
initial recognition, it is the humble approach that will indeed be
the talk of the town.
E: Serve with effort. A hard worker has never gone
unnoticed. Those who tend to serve in a selfish way often do very
little because they spend an unnecessary about of time flaunting
themselves before others. Even teachers recognize a student who
puts forth effort much more than one who does nothing.
L: Serve with love. If you find yourself in a
position of servant leader, make sure that love and compassion are
the real reasons you serve. Society offers numerous techniques for
developing a servant leader, but when the development techniques
instill compassion for the cause within the lesson plan, a selfless
mentality will evolve. Servant leaders, too, may have tasks to
perform with an ensuing and necessary outcome. However, the outcome
can be more easily achieved when the cause is much more important
than recognition of one's self.
F: Serve freely. Don't antagonize over whether you
should do this or that. If you are truly a servant, how can you go
wrong serving with a selfless heart? Much of the restlessness
occurring over how to be a servant leader or how to serve stems
from the inner debate over what the personal benefits and costs
are. There are no ultimate costs when serving from the heart.
Therefore, the benefits more than outweigh the costs.
L: Serve without little foxes. The little foxes
are those inner feelings of jealousy and envy that prevent one from
being a true servant. The battle to be better or to keep up with
others only hinders the service that can be provided. Jealousy and
envy interfere with the decisions you may make, and your
interactions with others and the help they can provide. The little
foxes tend to result in selfish behavior. For example, if you are
jealous of someone else, then the genuine and beneficial help that
they offer will be discarded because you want to be in charge. The
organization is then robbed of a good idea, and the individual is
robbed of their own servitude.
E: Serve with endurance. When cast aside for your
genuine service, keep on serving and never be downtrodden for your
efforts. Despite no initial rewards, let your reputation and your
perseverance show.
S: Serve with sense. The sensible servant leader
is one who has knowledge of the subject matter or is willing to ask
for help. A servant with sense will also reward and give credit to
others for their efforts. A sensible servant will always exercise
caution in judgment and care in actions.
S: Serve with and for stewards. If you see someone
who claims to be servant leader, but they have confusion in the
ranks under them, then you should question their servitude and
observe their selfishness. A servant leader will have stewards who
willingly work with them rather than out of fear or the "under the
thumb" approach. Servant leaders will have a good team around them
because they recognize their stewards.
By removing selfishness from the servant-leadership approach, you
will find that organizations and people flourish with new ideas and
innovation. You will also find that work flows and personal
interactions take place with less conflict and hassle.