I read several books while on Sabbatical and one that made me hungry for more was titled: The Servant – A Simple Story About The True Essence Of Leadership by James C. Hunter. The principles of this book are not new and something we have heard several times. They don’t demand special talents or abilities: they are simply based on strengthening the bonds of respect, responsibility, and caring for other people. That is something we strive for here at FDLIC. Great organizations are made up of great leaders,not necessarily in top leadership positions but because the top leader has put other leaders in place to grow and develop other leaders. A company full of leaders, each taking personal responsibility for the success of the team and their individual influences on the customer and on each other. Quoting: “A place where everyone is engaged and fully committed – not 50/50 but 100/100 and yes even 110/110 when it is needed. ”
Another great take away was “not asking who is the leader here or are you a leader” but “are you effective?” Wow – think about that for a minute “are you effective?” not only at work but in relationships, our work for God, in everything we pick up and become a part of? That has been something I have been asking myself in several areas of my life and if the answer is “not really or maybe”, then I need to evaluate what I am doing and why. I need to believe I have left something better than the way I found it.
Vince Lombardi said ” I don’t necessarily have to like my players and associates, but as the leader, I must love them. Love is loyalty, love is teamwork, love respects the dignity of the individual. This is the strength of any organization.” Well, I do like most people I come in contact with and enjoy the people I am around but understanding the meaning of this was educational. When Jesus speaks of love in the New Testament, the word agape is used, a love of behavior and choice, not a love of feeling.” This was just some of the things that really spoke to me. Commanding we love and then “feeling it” hummm… but then understanding that love is not always that simple. Love and Leadership: Look at this chart:
Authority and Leadership AGAPE Love
- Honest, trustworthy Patience
- Good role model Kindness
- Caring Humility
- Committed Respectfulness
- Good listener Selflessness
- Held people accountable Forgiveness
- Treated people with respect Honesty
- Gave people encouragement Commitment
- Postiive, enthusiastic attitude
- Appreciated people
if you look up each of the definitions of the AGAPE Love words, they are what is described on the authority and leadership side. Look up the verse 1 Corinthians 13-4:8. Made sense and it was straight from the Word. Lots of takeaways in this book and I recommend its reading.