Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion Guest Writers

Servant leadership isn’t about ego and money

byGuest Contributor
13 April 2017
Reading Time: 3 mins read
AA
servant leadership

Servant leaders: "Authentic leaders have high levels of awareness and high values as well as confidence, hope, optimism, and resilience."

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
servant leadership
Servant leaders: “Authentic leaders have high levels of awareness and high values as well as confidence, hope, optimism, and resilience.”

Servant leaders: “Authentic leaders have high levels of awareness and high values as well as confidence, hope, optimism, and resilience.”

Servant leadership is moving outside of religious institutions into mainstream business; at least that’s what some business gurus are saying.

Since the Global Financial Crisis organisations have been facing legitimacy issues as employees fail to see their leaders live the values their organisation espouses and customers feel betrayed when products or services fall short of what is promised.

The name servant leadership may be seen as “soft” but increasingly soft skills are delivering big results.

Advocates of servant leadership state there are ten characteristics – listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualisation, foresight, stewardship, commitment to others, and building community.

Some credit the concept to ancient Chinese philosopher Lao­-Tzu.

Others draw links with: “You know among the Gentiles those whom they recognise as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; whoever wishes to become great among you must be servant of all,” (Mark, 10:42-44).

Leaders who seek to blame others for their organisation’s flawed ethics are increasingly being named and shamed ­­­­­­– think of Volkswagen ex-chief executive Marin Winterkorn who blamed engineers for cheating on emissions tests.

People do not like disingenuous behaviour whether it is an individual or an organisation.

Window-dressing, appearing to be something you are not, will eventually be seen.

Related Stories

Mercy in the middle-class

For some this reality may come as a rude shock following years of self-deception where they have created a culture where questions cannot be asked and positioning cannot be challenged.

The path to servant leadership comes from a desire to serve others – not a desire for ego and remuneration.

Servant leadership has to do with more responsibility, not less work.

When the responsibility to serve others is understood the glamour of being on top of the organisational chart paves way to the real challenge of putting values into action and bringing troops or a flock with you.

Authentic leaders have high levels of awareness and high values as well as confidence, hope, optimism, and resilience.

People want to freely follow a leader who possesses these attributes rather than submit to a leader because “I am the boss; you must do as I ask or I will punish you.”

Addressing moral dilemmas is part of leadership territory.

When a leader positively and consistently addresses their own self-regulation they are able to clearly frame the dilemma, transparently respond and in doing so set an example as an ethical role model.

Do you know any leaders who remind of this in your business, sport, church, or family?

At my first training session with Rosies Friends on the Street I was delighted to hear them speak of servant leadership and then see these characteristics demonstrated in the actions and attitudes of team leaders and other volunteers.

There was also a gentle reminder when communally saying the Rosies prayer which includes the line: “So forgetful of self that we might simply become the place where You (Jesus) and they meet in the power of Your Love and the joy of your friendship.”

As we spend time reflecting over the Easter season it is good to consider servant leadership and be reminded of Mark’s words: “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many,” (Mark 10:45).

Open our hearts, Lord, so we may become servants of Your divine will.

By Claire Burns

Claire Burns is a Brisbane Catholic businesswoman.

ShareTweet
Previous Post

Irish rebel’s headstone to be blessed on Easter Monday

Next Post

Raise your eyes to the gaze of Jesus Christ

Guest Contributor

Related Posts

helping-hand
Guest Writers

Mercy in the middle-class

5 December 2016 - Updated on 1 April 2021
Next Post
Crucifixion

Raise your eyes to the gaze of Jesus Christ

Aussie veterans program

Leading clinical psychologist praises veteran program 'Timor Awakening'

Hairdressers offering cuts for homeless

Meet the hairdressers aiming to give 1000 free haircuts to the homeless this year

Popular News

  • Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

    Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Christian Brothers’ community mourn the passing of Brother Tony White

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • All Catholics invited to pray rosary for peace with Pope Francis next Tuesday

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Abdallah family launch forgiveness campaign one year on from crash that killed four children

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

Vatican

All Catholics invited to pray rosary for peace with Pope Francis next Tuesday

by Staff writers
27 May 2022
0

By Catholic News Agency THE Vatican is inviting Catholics to join Pope Francis in praying the rosary...

Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria

Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria

27 May 2022
Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

26 May 2022
Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

26 May 2022
Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting

Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting

26 May 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping