Think You’re Not a Leader?

Think Again!

Does serving others come naturally to you? I can relate. I would rather be the worker bee buzzing around in the background, meeting the needs of others, than being in charge. However, I now see my life from a different perspective.

My deepest desire was to pen words of encouragement to others. However, when I showed up at a local writer’s group near my home, I found the group had disbanded. I was invited to stay for a Toastmasters club meeting. I knew this was a public speaking group, but I rationalized that I could get experience writing speeches.

Upon entering a roomful of friendly faces, I had second thoughts when I saw a banner containing the club logo: “Toastmasters: Where Leaders are Made.” Was my misadventure part of God’s plan for my life? Now, six years later, attending this club has been part of my Wednesday night routine.

I was recently assigned a speech about leadership. Ugh! I procrastinated. Then, I researched leadership types and knew I had found my niche.

Servant Leadership is a term that was coined in 1970 by Robert K. Greenleaf. While a non-traditional philosophy, its primary emphasis is that the more able and the less able serve each other. Our of this idea comes the ability to see ourselves as leaders and empower others with similar goals.

Communication skills essential for servant leaders include listening to understand and fostering equality among your peers. You have a common goal and work together to obtain it. When your needs are met, you are more likely to achieve a work-life balance and prioritize your mental and physical health. It’s like when you are in an airplane, and the flight attendant informs you to put on your mask first. Then, put a mask on your child. We can’t serve from an empty cup.

The next phase of servant leadership involves an awareness of your values and goals. How might your ideals help your community?

My motivation has always been to help those in need—those who are dealing with illnesses, trauma, and grief. I have been through the school of hard knocks, having been a caregiver to my husband, who was a cancer patient for forty years. I understand depression as one who has lived through trying to be the perfect wife to my dying husband, while he outlived his doctor’s expectations by decades.

I also learned that people who have not been in situations like mine don’t know how to encourage those who are hurting. I was told to “buck up and count my blessings.” I was also the subject of gossip and overheard a family member saying about my clinical depression, “Well, I always knew there was something wrong with Barbara.”

Yes, I was officially mentally ill, but God didn’t waste my pain. He taught me that my mental health included the decision to forgive those who didn’t meet my expectations. He comforted me, a broken person, so I could, in turn, be a blessing to others. God uses broken people. He comforted me, so I, in turn, could comfort others going through pain.

So, where are you in terms of your communication skills?

Do you listen and consider others as your equals?

Can you define your values and goals for your life?

What areas of expertise might you have that could benefit your colleagues or community?

When you have completed these prerequisite steps, you are ready to move on to sharing. My caution would be to do so with gentleness and respect, so as not to offend others. Instead, work together for the good of the group.

This isn’t a one-time action. Adjustments may be necessary as visions evolve. Still, this is the essence of servant leadership.

Through these steps, I have found peace and purpose in leading as a servant.

What will you do with this information?