Tuesday night I attended a ceremony where ministers received their license and some took additional steps to be ordained. I watched as each one was given a "servant's towel". The symbolism being that, as leaders, they are to be true servants and this towel was a physical reminder. What a great visual! Leaders reminded to be servants first. It seems so easy in this day and age, to forget that concept. We often see self-important leaders with big egos, who forget that part of leadership is serving first (by example), then leading (to expand service to individuals & groups). They have the attitude of "I already put in my time". And that attitude may work in the short term, but if you want to continue to expand those that you lead, you have to continue to serve. How you serve may ebb and flow. Your activities have to change to meet the needs of those you serve. Often, when things get out of balance, the answer is to get back to basics - find the need, meet the need. Who will you serve today?
One of my leadership activities is being a business coach. I help others identify their goals and plan strategies to achieve their goals. Very often, the initial coaching goes something like this- "What are your goals?" "These are my goals." "What do you need to do to achieve these goals?" "I need to do a,b,c." "When do you want to have these goals achieved?" "By this date." And then off they go. OK- so there is more, but this boils it down to the essentials. Next coaching (after they have actually done some of the steps) sometimes goes like this- "No one will a or b." "What was their objection?" "I asked them to a or b for me, and they just said no." "What did you offer them?" "I offered them a or b and they said no." "What was in it for them?" "I didn't even get to tell them because they said no." "So why would they want a or b?&quo
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