Caring is the essential motive. –Robert K. Greenleaf
Good Day Gentle Reader. Today I will continue our exploring:
THE SERVANT-AS-LEADER: ‘PRINCIPLES-DISCIPLINES & PRACTICES’ [NOTE: Please see PART I for the context]:
- BEING ETHICAL – Greenleaf’s first center was his center for Applied Ethics. ‘Being Ethical’ is another of the ‘Core Values’ of the Servant, first (whether follower or leader). A guiding principle for an ethical Servant, first might well be: ‘To act, at all times, rooted in Integrity.’
- IMAGING [SCENARIO PLANNING] – The Servant, first engages in ‘Imaging’ in order to help develop ‘foresight’ and to help the Servant, first nurture his/her ‘intuitive capacities.’ Greenleaf shares his story of ‘practicing’ imaging a situation and then the ‘situation’ actually occurred and he was able to quickly react (appropriately for he had imaged his doing so) and a man’s life was saved.
- INTUITION – Intuition = the ability to understand something immediately without conscious reasoning; one ‘knows’ from an ‘instinctive feeling’ not from ‘reasoning.’ The more one is able to engage ‘abstract thinking’ the ‘easier’ it is for one to develop one’s ‘Intuition’ and the more one is ‘wedded’ to ‘concrete’ thinking the more challenging it is for one to develop one’s ‘Intuition.’
- BEING EFFECTIVE-BEING FAITHFUL – The Servant, first is called to ‘Be Effective’ AND is also called to ‘Be Faithful.’ A guiding question: ‘What must I (the Servant, first) ‘Be Faithful’ to even if I might not ‘Be Effective?’ For example, the Servant, first is called to ‘Be Faithful’ to being ethical no matter what (as a ‘living paradox’ the Servant, first will not be perfect but he/she can become more consistent).
- REFLECTION + EXPERIENCE – Over and over and over again Greenleaf challenges the Servant, first to, at times, stop, step-back and reflect upon his/her experience. Charles Handy captured this with his ‘Experience plus Reflection is the Learning.’ We are so addicted to speed and we suffer from what Kundera calls ‘hurry sickness’ so that taking the time to Reflect becomes a daunting challenge.
- CO-CREATING – The Servant, first strives to ‘co-create’ with the one being served. What is ‘co-created’ is ‘emotionally owned’ by the co-creators. When we ‘emotionally own’ what we co-create we are willing to, together, hold our co-creation ‘in trust’ (we are willing to be co-stewards) and we are more willing to support one another AND we are more willing to hold ‘self’ and ‘one another’ accountable (‘I’ and ‘We’ are responsible).
- ‘IN HERE’ – Greenleaf is clear: The Servant, first always begins ‘In Here’ and not ‘Out There.’ ‘Know Thy Self’ becomes crucial. Greenleaf also, as is his wont, ups the ante with: ‘To refuse to examine the assumptions one lives by is potentially immoral.’ Some of the ‘other’ ‘In Here’ that the Servant, first is called to seek to understand include, but are not limited to: Core Values, Core Guiding Principles, Core Stereotypes, Core Prejudices, Core Judgments and Core Attitudes.
- CHOICE – ‘What have I integrated that powerfully shapes my choosing?’ Greenleaf reminds us that ‘Choice’ powerfully influences, if not directly determines, the Servant, first’s ‘Search.’ In order to consciously ‘choose’ I must be awake and aware and fully present ‘now.’
Our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world, as in being able to remake ourselves. –Gandhi
Servant As Leader 