Thursday, March 26, 2009

5 Attributes of Inspirational Servant Leaders

I have always run from Leadership in the past, more from a fear of hard work than lack of confidence.
Somehow over the last few years as my networth has diminished the demand for my services in leadership roles has increased.
AND as I look at the great leadership talent around me locally, nationally and internationally I am still struggling to overcome the Groucho Marks principle "I don't care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members. " or my version 'I wouldn't want to lead a group of people who would settle for me as their leader'.

My leadership style is definitely a 'servant leadership style':
Servant leadership is an approach to leadership development, coined and defined by Robert Greenleaf and advanced by several authors such as Stephen Covey, Peter Block, Peter Senge, Max DePree, Margaret Wheatley, Ken Blanchard, and others. Servant-leadership emphasises the leader's role as steward of the resources (human, financial and otherwise) provided by the organisation. It encourages leaders to serve others while staying focused on achieving results in line with the organisation's values and integrity. - wikipedia

AND i aspire now to be an inspirational servant leader:

5 Attributes of Inspirational Leaders - Dr John C. Maxwell

ATTITUDE OF SERVICE
To be an inspirational leader, one must adopt an attitude of service toward those you lead.

AFFIRMATION
To inspire consistently over time, one must positively affirm the views of others. Magnifying the attributes in everyone around us.
ATTENTIVENESS
Great inspirers know and attend to the desires of those they lead.
AVAILABILITY

Servant Leaders inspire by intentionally investing time in the people they lead.
AUTHENTICITY

To inspire, leaders have to be genuine. Servant Leaders gain their true Authority through unwavering integrity

Summary
Inspirational servant leadership cannot be confused with momentary charisma. Leadership requires endurance. More than a brilliant speech, it's cultivating habits of brilliance that manifest themselves daily. By modeling the five attributes of an inspiring servant leader, I trust that i will win my own self respect and feel worthy to join a club that is eager to have me as a member.