Sandy Kraesig

Emerging Leaders Program

Leadership/Management Book Review

**Title**: The Servant -- A Simple Story About Leadership

**Author**: James C. Hunter

**Publisher**: Prima Publishing

This is a fictional tale of John Daily, a general manager for a plate
glass manufacturing plant. He commanded a hefty salary, had a very nice
home, boat, and lived a comfortable, upper middle-class life. He was
husband, father of two children, and little league baseball coach. John
had all the appearance of being successful; but his marriage was
faltering, his relationship with his children was deteriorating, and his
employees were unhappy. A pastor suggested that John go to a week long
retreat at a monastery to sort things out. Reluctantly, he went.

During his stay at the monastery, John attended daily leadership
training sessions. He was joined by five other men and women with
various backgrounds and occupations. Their teacher, Brother Simeon, is a
monk who was once a highly successful, well known, and respected Fortune
500 executive. During these sessions the group learned about life and
leadership skills from Brother Simeon and each other.

Brother Simeon started the first session by saying that the role of a
leader is a very high calling: "Your employees will spend roughly half
their waking hours working and living in the environment you create as
the leader." Notice he said "leader" and not manager. He made the
distinction that things are managed, and people are lead. The group
decided that the definition of leadership is "...the skill of
influencing people to work enthusiastically toward goals identified as
being for the common good." The main leadership point in this book is
that the true foundation of leadership is not power, but authority,
which is built upon relationships, love, service, and sacrifice. Power
is "the ability to force or coerce someone to do your will, even if they
would choose not to because of your position or your might." Authority
is "the skill of getting people to willingly do your will because of
your personal influence." Power is an ability while authority is a
skill. Power can be bought and sold, given and taken away. Authority is
about who you are as a person, your character, and the influence you've
built with people. You can be in a position of power and not have
authority with people. Conversely, a person could have authority with
people but not be in a position of power. The goal is to be a person in
power who also has authority with people.

On the second day Brother Simeon lead the group in rethinking their
leadership paradigm. A paradigm is the way we think about ourselves and
our world. The old paradigm of management was a pyramid where the CEO is
at the top, followed by the vice president, middle management,
supervisors, and finally the associates or employees at the base. This
concept was borrowed from the military and monarchial societies.
Customers are in closest contact with the lowest level, the workers. In
this paradigm everyone in the pyramid is looking upward, pleasing or
working for the layer above them. All focus is in the opposite direction
of the customer. Our new paradigm, as Brother Simeon explained, should
be where the pyramid is inverted. This is known as the
Servant-Leadership model. The customer is now positioned at the very
top. Those closest to the customer are still the associates or
employees, with supervisors in the next level down, followed by the
other layers of management. Associates work to meet the needs of the
customers. Supervisors see the associates as their customer and work to
meet their needs. Middle management then supports the needs of the
immediate supervisors, and so on down the pyramid. Management would need
to take on a new mind-set, that will recognize the role of the leader as
not to rule and lord over the layer above, but to serve.

Brother Simeon stated that the greatest leader is the one who has served
the most. Based on that, he claimed that Jesus Christ is the greatest
leader of all time. Jesus believed and taught his disciples that in
order to lead you must be willing to serve. He had immense influence and
authority, and continues to influence billions today. Other great
leaders that lead through influence and not power are Gandhi, Martin
Luther King, and Mother Teresa.

By mid week, Brother Simeon introduced the concept that leaders need to
love the people they're leading. The definition of love he spoke of is
found in the New Testament of the Bible in First Corinthians chapter
thirteen. To paraphrase, it says love is **patience, kindness, humility,
respectfulness, selflessness, forgiveness, honesty, and commitment**.
Note that love is described as behaviors, not feelings. Brother Simeon
and the group explored and expanded on each property of love:

1.  **Patience** is showing self-control. If a person messes up,
    deficiencies can be pointed out while still allowing them to keep
    their dignity. The goal of any disciplinary action should be to
    correct or change the behavior; to train the person and not to
    punish.

2.  **Kindness** is giving attention, appreciation, and encouragement.
    The best way to pay attention to people is by actively listening,
    giving them your undivided attention, and silencing your own
    internal conversations.

3.  **Humility** is being authentic without pretense or arrogance. It is
    not thinking less of you, but thinking about yourself less. It is a
    true knowing of yourself and your limitations.

4.  **Respectfulness** is treating others as important people.

5.  **Selflessness** is meeting the needs of others, even if it means
    sacrificing your own needs and wants.

6.  **Forgiveness** is giving up resentment when wronged. It is dealing
    with situations as they arise in an assertive manner and then
    letting go of any lingering resentment.

7.  **Honesty** is being free from deception. It is clarifying
    expectations for people, holding them accountable, being willing to
    give both good and bad news, giving people feedback, and being
    consistent, predictable, and fair.

8.  **Commitment** is sticking to your choices. It is a vision about
    individual and group growth along with continuous improvement. The
    committed leader is dedicated to growing, stretching, and
    continuously improving to become the best they can be. It is also a
    passion for the people in the team, pushing them to become the best
    they can be.

The last thing that Brother Simeon shared was that leadership should be
striving to make a difference in the lives of others. One American
Indian tribe has an old saying that goes, "When you were born you cried
and the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a way that when you die
the world cries and you rejoice." Dr. Albert Schweitzer said "I don't
know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know. The only ones
among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and
found how to serve."

The week went by quickly for John and others in the group. They all
learned from each other and a close friendship formed. John thanked and
hugged Brother Simeon, and said he was determined to put into practice
all that he learned. Brother Simeon assured him that he would do well.
When John's wife picked him up, she already sensed the change in him.
John's reply was, "Just a small step on a new journey".

I thought this was an excellent, thought-provoking book! I've heard
these simple concepts taught in various messages from the pulpit every
Sunday, but this was the first time I've heard them applied this way.
I've marked half the book, highlighting all the gems of wisdom and
truth.

It made me think back to all the jobs I've had over the years, seeing
examples of poor managers and wonderful leaders. There are many managers
who do not understand how to lead and influence subordinates. But,
sometimes even in the lower positions of the corporate pyramid, you find
individuals that are true leaders. The day I attain that position, I
hope my actions would be described as that of a leader, not a manager.