The Future Leader

14The Servant

The word “servant” dates back to the thirteenth century and comes from the Anglo-French word servir, which means to serve or to be useful. I find it fascinating that throughout history servants have been considered lower-class individuals typically without a higher set of skills and abilities. These individuals worked for those who were wealthier, more connected, and perceived to be smarter and better than they were. Ironically enough, centuries after the word was even introduced, it's the servant mindset that is among the most valuable for leaders to possess; it's why we keep hearing about this concept of servant leadership.

Being a leader doesn't mean that you get to sit at the top of the pyramid and tell everyone else what to do. It means that you stand at the bottom of the pyramid and help prop up everyone else. This is in stark contrast to what the business world is used to. Doug DeVos, the president of Amway, which employs around 20,000 people, put this rather simply and poignantly: “Leadership is serving those around you in a way that helps them be the best they can be and therefore achieves the results for your organization or team.”

Service orientation for a leader manifests in four crucial ways: service to your leaders, service to your team, service to ...