'Quote' and 'Comment' 'written' by Stephanie (nicknamed 'Sandrit')
Quote NKJV "Job 28:10 He cuts out channels in the rocks, And his eye sees every precious thing."
Comment, "NOT, HOW DOES ONE LEAD, RATHER WHO DOES ONE SERVE...If one thinks that one is in control, one is deluding oneself"
I hope this was of some value to y'all groupies!
Have a great day or night, (where ever you may find yourself)
CHEERS :)
Sandrit (Stephanie's 'nickname')"
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The illusion of control and serving to lead
That's lovely, Sandrit, thank you. You reminded me of something that is a big issue for leaders: 'Leaders' suffer too much from the illusion of control. And your second point comes from that, too: most are only gradually learning that serving and leading aren't opposites; that you have to serve to lead is kind of the paradox of leadership. There's a guy in the UK runs a chain of shoe repair stores called Timpsons who calls it 'upside down leadership' (borrowing the thinking of Ken Blanchard and others) - That the people running his shops and serving the customers are at the top, and the 'leaders' support and serve them - constantly asking them what they need to do their job better, listening to their ideas then providing the resources, support etc. to let them lead. It's the upside down pyramid thing compared with traditional structures. You've linked the two very succinctly (the illusion of control and the need to recognize it and give up the illusion of control by serving to really lead properly today). Thanks for sharpening it up so the connection between the two is clearer in my head.
Pyramid Org Structure
When I worked for American Express  we drew our org structure with the customer facing people at the top and the CEO at the bottom. It was very powerful. Â
On the point of serving and control. In leadership there is a place for and need for both it is the application of when and why that really makes the difference in my humble opinion.  Â
Kate
pyramid
Mmm. Good thing. We used to talk about it at HP but nobody near enough the top made the leap to do it for real.
 :D
One of my favourite quotes
One of my favourite quotes which is of Native American origin:
When i know not who I am, i serve you.
When I know who I am, I am you.
"People hardly ever make use of the freedom the have. For example, the freedom of thought. Instead they demand freedom of speech as a compensation."
Soren Kierkegaard
Serving Leaders
I would recommend James Hunters book "The Servant" for an excellent short read on Servant Leadership. Giving up control is difficult but essential to leadership. Unfortunately many leaders do not have the emotional intellegence it takes to give up control.
Words of Wisdom - Lao-Tzu
A good manager is best when people barely know that he exists. Not so good when people obey and acclaim him. Worse when they despise him.
Lao-Tzu
Chinese philosopher (604 BC - 531 BC)
Kate
Quiet manager
It's a definite management style, a la 'Good to Great'.
I wrote an article around it here, including another Lao Tzu quote.
:DÂ
good quote kate. there is a
good quote kate.
there is a connection between power and perceived security. The result is however much more energy put into "leadership", for coercion is necessary to maintain it. Definitely better to view leadership as being a guide to aide others along, giving them the support to go where they need to, but allowing them to take you there.
This is why I say good leaders don't serve, they ARE their people/organizations. To make an anatomy comparison. We are the sum of our anatomical parts. We are our heart, we are our liver, all the parts do as needed and we take care of them to allow them to (or so we should be). You could say that the "I" is the leader of the body, but it leads by listening to the body and allowing the parts to do as they need do. Empathy is needed.
"People hardly ever make use of the freedom the have. For example, the freedom of thought. Instead they demand freedom of speech as a compensation."
Soren Kierkegaard