Good morning Gentle Reader. I have decided to share with you the post I entered this morning on my other blog. This, for me, is an example of a servant, servant-leader, and servant-team member.
Yesterday I had the opportunity to have connection, conversation and coffee with my daughter, Rebecca. Rebecca is the Senior Event Planner (my title for her role) at the Alexander Hotel here in Indianapolis (check it out on-line, it is a wonderful hotel – for many reasons). She had had a challenging week with a client that she had ‘inherited’ – the client had asked that the person they were working with be ‘replaced’.
Rebecca loves her work and one of her many strengths, and gifts, is her ability to connect with folks and ‘partner with them’ (her words) and work with them so they have an experience that more than satisfies their needs. She has a gift of healing strained and broken relationships with clients and she has partnered with a diverse number of ‘team’ members and together they have co-created a high performing team. Did I mention that she loves her team members, her clients and her work?
For me, Rebecca is a living testimony to the counsel I received from a mentor more than 40 years ago: What you do should be worthy of your attention and dignity, and affirm and demonstrate the respect you have for yourself. I have learned, and Rebecca has learned, that if you love what you do, then you will do it beautifully. The deeper, more light-filled side of your soul will help you bring the light of love to what you do, to how you serve. What you do, rooted in love, will be creative and transforming. Because Rebecca is who she is, the client experienced the person, Rebecca, and the professional. They worked together to create and a broken relationship was transformed into a partnership.
Here is a ‘Blessing’ written by John O’Donohue; I find it fitting for today.
A Blessing
May the light of your soul guide you.
May the light of your soul bless the work you do with the
secret love and warmth of your heart.
May you see in what you do the beauty of your own soul.
May the sacredness of your work bring healing, light, and
renewal to those who work with you and to those who see
and receive your work.
May your work never weary you.
May it release within you wellsprings of refreshment,
inspiration, and excitement.
May you be present in what you do.
May you never become lost in the bland absences.
May the day never burden.
May dawn find you awake and alert, approaching your
new day with dreams, possibilities, and promises.
May evening find you gracious and fulfilled.
May you go into the night blessed, sheltered, and protected.
May your soul calm, console, and renew you.
Servant As Leader 