Servant Leadership
I recently stumbled upon a quote about servant leadership that really challenged me. It was one of those quotes that I aspire to, but I often fail to live up to. It was from a person I was not very familiar with, but now I'm very interested in reading more of their work. Max De Pree worked the Herman-Miller furniture company for nearly 40 years and led it as their CEO in the 80's. Here's the quote I found so challenging.
“The leader is the servant who removes the obstacles that prevent people from doing their jobs.” - Max De Pree
What a way to frame leadership. So often the image of a CEO or leader is at the top, but this totally flips the vision of what it means to lead. Rather than being on top, the leader is out front. This fundamentally shifted from a static to a dynamic role. Rather than building something up, the leader is moving the organization forward. Their place is in the front because that is where the obstacles are that prevent the organization from moving towards the next destination.
Pioneer
When I took the StandOut Assessment from Marcus Buckingham, my two strengths were Pioneer and Teacher. I think that is why the quote resonated with me so well. Many of the traits mentioned in the full report provided after taking the assessment are ones I find useful as I lead.
Whereas others are intimidated by the unfamiliar, you are intrigued by it. It fires your curiosity and heightens your senses--you are smarter and more perceptive when you're doing something you've never done before. – StandOut Report
Where De Pree's quote humbled me is that it's easy to forget when your pioneer a new way that there are others following behind you. While I'm fine with ambiguity and uncertainty, the people I lead may not be. Part of leadership is blazing the trail. The other part is ensuring that it's clear enough that others can follow that trail.
That's why DePree's quote hit like it did. I aspire to cut the path, but sometimes I forget to take the time to cut out the briars that might snag someone traveling with me. I need that constant reminder that moving forward is only possible if you take the time to clear the trail behind you.
If you haven't taken the assessment, I'd suggest that you check it out for yourself. There is lots of great learning here.
Final Thoughts
I have a lot left to learn about leading. Every time I think I've figured something out, I realize how deep the ocean really is. It's important for me to continue engaging in learning, so that I can find quotes like this that make me re-frame what it means to lead. Now I have this quote hanging close to my desk, so I can constantly remind myself to be looking for the barriers that might prevent a teacher from the vital work they are doing with students.