“When what’s lost has been found/what’s to come has already been.” Bob Dylan(Pressing On).
Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy that turns upside down the traditional leadership model of power residing at the top of the pyramid. The servant leader shares power, and helps people develop and achieve a high level of performance through self- directed team development. Servant leadership practices fit well with the nursing home Culture Change movement, promoting an advanced state of it.
This relatively new approach has its roots in ancient wisdom. Lao- Tzu, through the venerated Tao-Te-Ching wrote around 2500 years ago:
“ The highest type of ruler is one whose existence the people are barely aware.
Next comes one whom they love and praise.
Next comes one whom they fear.
Next comes one whom they despise and defy.
When you are lacking in faith, others will be unfaithful to you.
The Sage is self-effacing and scanty of words.
When his task is accomplished and things have been completed,
All the people say, “we ourselves have achieved it.””
I’m going to use this at my Tuesday morning leadership meeting this week. Thank you, Jeff. You taught me this over 10 years ago and it’s a practice I’m continually striving to improve. I’m forever grateful for your wisdom and insight.
I LOVE this Post, Jeff…. Everyone contributes to a group effort. A group completing any task can revel in a ‘job-well-done’ when they are given an assignment, and leadership gets out of the way to allow them to fulfill their part. Trusting in them to each do their portion allows mountains to be moved, and individually-impossible efforts to accomplish collectively gargantuan things…. I hold the vision that those at the top of power pyramids always have respect for those in their wake.
Wonderful musing Jeff. One has to be selfless and immune to the trappings of power!