SCROOGED: LESSONS ON SERVANT LEADERSHIP

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The Point:  Servant Leadership joyfully focuses outward.

At the beginning of Dicken’s  A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer is being a Scrooge.  He is stingy, unmerciful and unkind.  His reaction to Christmas?  “Bah Humbug!”  One Marley and three ghosts later, Scrooge wakes up—beautifully human and full of generosity, grace and kindness.  He transformed from a selfish leader to a servant leader.

At a recent Chamber of Commerce meeting, after business leaders experienced the story of Scrooge,
they were asked to consider the concept of Servant Leadership. Some groups listed characteristics and priorities that would undermine Servant Leadership.  Other groups considered what characteristics and priorities would support Servant leadership.

How would you respond to these prompts?

Here is what the groups said.

Servant Leadership is not . . .

  • Selfish
  • Narrow-minded
  • Greedy
  • Insensitive
  • Coercive

Servant Leadership is . . .

  • Charitable
  • Inclusive
  • Honest with self
  • Putting others first
  • Finding happiness in people, giving and helping rather than in things

It was great to seeing the groups interact and share their experiences.  When the lists were read aloud, there were nods of affirmation regarding each item.  It was good!

We could see that Servant Leadership seeks what is best for those being led.  It values people more than possessions and relationships more than wealth.  The actions of a Servant Leader support those values. This Christmas honor the inspiration for the holiday and use your leadership to serve.

Mike Gibson

MRG Presentations, LLC

Training the Brain for Behavioral Change