On the third day they met another monk who was also
going to the monastery and he joined their party. This monk never complained or
shirked a duty, and whenever the others fought over a chore, he would gracefully
volunteer and simply do it himself. By the last day the other monks were
following his example, and they worked together smoothly.
When they reached the monastery and asked to see
Brother Leo, the man who greeted them laughed: “But our brother is among you!”
And he pointed to the fellow who had joined them late in the trip.
Today, many people seek leadership positions not so
much for what they can do for others, but for what the position can do for
them: status, connections, perks or future advantage. As a result, they do
service primarily as an investment, a way to build an impressive resume.
The parable about Brother Leo teaches another model
of leadership, where leaders are preoccupied with serving rather than being
followed, with giving rather than getting, and doing rather than demanding.
It’s a form of leadership based on example, not command. It’s called servant
leadership.
Can you imagine how much better things would be if
more politicians, educators and business executives saw themselves as servant
leaders?
About the author: Michael Josephson is one of the
nation’s most sought-after and quoted ethicists. Founder and president of
Josephson Institute and its CHARACTER COUNTS! project, he has conducted
programs for more than 100,000 leaders in government, business, education,
sports, law enforcement, journalism, law, and the military. Mr. Josephson is
also an award-winning radio commentator.
This article was published by the Josephson
Institute.
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