Personally, I’m enjoying sharing my thoughts on servant-leadership. I know it’s counter-cultural to what we know about leadership. However, if you desire to lead God’s way, then servant-leadership is the way to go. Yesterday I began the conversation sharing The Power of Being a Servant-Leader. If you haven’t read it, you can read it HERE. Today, I’d like to continue the conversation by sharing the consequences of not having a servant-leader attitude.
The Consequences of not having a Servant-Leader Attitude
Is there really a benefit to being a servant-leader? After all many leaders rise up who don’t believe in serving. Let’s look at a character that did not have an attitude of being a servant-leader. What was their influence in history? Saul was the first of Israel’s kings. He was a tall and powerful warrior and a capable man.
But once he was king, he seemed to think this entitled him to do whatever he wanted. Attitudes of Saul’s life reflect he wasn’t a servant-leader. Saul made decisions based on popularity. When he made mistakes he tried to excuse them rather than take responsibility for them. He was insecure and tried to hold onto his position as king.
He was angry that someone like David should emerge as a leader. He often acted irrationally and put his personal agenda’s ahead of the good of the people he was leading. As a result his reign was not influential, he died young, and Israel did not prosper under his rule. History may have turned out differently had he had a servant-leader attitude. By contrast David is someone who breathed and lived a servant- leader attitude. Join me Monday, February 7, 2011 as we discover the heart of a true servant-leader.
Further Reading Inspiration and References:
Scripture verses:
- The heart of a servant-leader – 2 Samuel 22:36
- Jesus teaches about being a servant-leader – Mark 10:42-45
- The demise of someone who is not a servant-leader – Ester 7:6-10
- God rejects a non servant-leader – 1 Samuel 24-26
Other Reading:
- The Heart of Change – John P. Kotter
- The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader – John C. Maxwell
- Becoming a Person of Influence – John C. Maxwell
