Contents:
IN PRAISE OF THE SERVANT
LEADER
- power from respect, not position
OBEDIENCE
- a true understanding of the word
CONNOTATIONS AND DENOTATIONS
- where meaning comes from
WALKING ON THE WATER
- leaving the boundaries behind
Hi, everyone! I've been benefiting from a slightly lighter workload
lately, since our newest doctor joined the business faculty. So I've
had the time to do some thinking, and discussing of concepts with various
faculty members, and reading and researching, perhaps in preparation for
a doctoral degree. Here are some of the things I've been thinking
lately. Please give me some feedback.
IN PRAISE OF THE SERVANT LEADER
"Jesus called all of the followers together and said, 'You know that the rulers of the non-Jewish people love to show their power over the people. And their important leaders love to use all their authority. But it should not be that way among you. Whoever wants to become great among you must serve the rest of you like a servant. Whoever wants to become first among you must serve the rest of you like a slave. In the same way, the Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many people." (Matthew 20:25-28, New Century Version)
What is power? Power is the ability to influence others. There are many sources of power:
Relational power: power from personal relationships and connections
Referent power: power from charisma
Expert power: power from specialized knowledge and skills
Allocative power: power from the ability to allocate resources
Reward power: power from the ability to give rewards
Legitimate power: power from rank
Coercive power: power from the ability to cause negative consequences
Each type of power can be effective in accomplishing aims. However, certain types of power are best used in certain environments, and others, only as a last resort.
When dealing with an environment where the maturity of the workers towards their task is low, and their commitment to the organization is low, the lower forms of power (reward, legitimate, and coercive) may be necessary to ensure compliance to the task.
Nevertheless, the "more excellent way" is one where compliance and conformity are not the object. Rather, in the intelligent type of organization which will thrive in the 21st century, tasks are accomplished because the people who make up the organization are personally committed to the achieving of the organization’s goals. This can occur two ways: the first involves workers who see their personal benefit in the achieving of goals. They may be interested in the rewards accruing to them if they are committed to the goals. They may be interested in fostering relationships with others also interested in achieving the goals - other team members. The second way involves employing workers who are personally committed to the mission of the organization, and who are willing to use their skills and abilities to work toward the goal. These are mature individuals who share the values of the organization and require no compelling external factors to give them satisfaction.
Leading professionals is more complicated than leading individuals whose jobs require less autonomy. Professionals, such as artists, accountants, educators, and lawyers may not be effectively motivated by rewards and punishments, as they most often find the deepest fulfillment in the task itself. And they prefer to follow those who have earned their respect over those who hold positions of authority. And because the intelligent organization is interested not only in the task that is accomplished but also the way that the task is performed (product and process), it is in thebest interests of the organization to have a voluntary commitment by these employees to the aims and objectives of the organization.
In this context, the style of leadership is critical. Leaders cannot depend upon coercion, fear, and authority, for these will accomplish results without commitment, and may in fact produce a backlash within the organization. The strongest source of power that a leader can employ here is relational power.
Relational power comes from various areas: use of language, listening skills, modeling of values, enhancement of capability, clarification of core values, and assurance of dignity, as well as the ability to build community within the organization - relationships between leader and follower, and between followers. Relationship building is, in effect, trust building, and relational leader leads from a strong position of trust: "If you love me, keep my commandments."
The concept of assurance of dignity is an important one. Respect is easily given when it is first received. And from the Christian point of view, the leader actually makes him or herself a servant, recognizing that people have dignity because they have been created in the image of God. Servant leaders understand that they are leaders only because someone agrees to follow them. Relationships are built upon promises which have been kept. Diversity is celebrated, recognizing the strength of differences. Servant leaders are committed to the long term benefit of the organization. Relational power, through the humble efforts of servant leaders, is created as the employees sense the true integrity, the integration of principle into living, modeled by the leader.
Employees led by a servant realize that he or she is someone that can be trusted, and someone that can be followed. They realize that the leader is not interested in personal gain, but shares a common vision that recognizes the principles of abundance - that everyone can share in the blessings when everyone contributes unselfishly. The leader uses relational power to model a commitment to the organization’s heart that is the first step in building community within the organization. And it starts with a vision of an organization that recognizes the principle of "give, and it shall be given unto you."
"Our vision of what could be inspires us and those we lead. In implementing our vision, we accept the reality that we don't have all the answers. A servant leader's results will be measured beyond the workplace, and the story will be told in the changed lives of others. There is no scarcity of feet to wash. The towels and the water are available. The limitation, if there is one, is our ability to get on our hands and knees and be prepared to do what we ask others to do." (Pollard, 248)
(References: Sally Helgesen, "Leading from the Grass Roots"; James L.
Heskett & Leonard A. Schlesinger, "Leaders Who Shape and Keep
Performance-Oriented Culture"; C. William Pollard, "The Leader Who
Serves" in The Leader of the Future, Drucker Foundation, 1996.)
"Children, obey your parents as the Lord wants, because this is the right thing to do. Fathers, do not make your children angry, but raise them with the training and teaching of the Lord. Slaves, obey your masters here on earth with fear and respect and from a sincere heart, just as you obey Christ. Do your work with enthusiasm. Work as if you were serving the Lord, not as if you were serving only men and women. Remember that the Lord will give a reward to everyone, slave or free, for doing good. Masters, in the same way, be good to your slaves. Do not threaten them. Remember that the One who is your Master and their Master is in heaven, and he treats everyone alike." (Ephesians 6:1,3,5,7-9, New Century Version)
When you think about obedience, what comes to mind? Is it your parents wagging their fingers at you and telling you to clean your room when you'd rather play? Do you think about your teachers telling you to clean the blackboards? Or do you think about agreeing with your friends when they invite you to come over? Can obedience be voluntary, or does it require compliance with an unwanted command before obedience can take place?
Obedience is defined as carrying out the instruction, order, or command of an individual. It does not specify whether that carrying out is done voluntarily, or involuntarily. Therefore, I will assume that the term obedience is neutral. Therefore, on you can voluntarily obey, and in fact, obey with enthusiasm. This occurs quite often, in fact, when mom calls you for dinner, and hungry you, you obey with alacrity. When you are in agreement with the person giving you an instruction, obedience comes easily.
Obedience can also be reluctant and grudging. When it's time to go home after a day on the beach, the obedience may come, but with much coaxing and coercion at times.
What's the difference? What makes obedience a positive or a negative concept? I think that it's a matter of the heart. If the hearts of the two individuals agree (and more on this concept in the next My Point of View), then obedience is easy. God sent His Son to earth, Jesus was willing to go. That was obedience. Moses was instructed to go to Pharaoh. He was reluctant, but eventually he went. That was obedience. It's all in the attitude. When you are called to obey, you have a choice about not only whether or not you will obey, but also about how you will obey.
Obedience to God is an important application. "Serve the Lord with gladness" (Psalm 100) When we trust God, and our heart agrees with God's heart, then we trust Him, and we are willing to obey.
Obedience to parents is easy when we know that they love us are interested in our best.
Obedience to spouse isn't a problem when we know that selfish motives are not influencing their requests.
If you want others to obey, they must sense in you a pure heart that
has their best interests at heart. The integrity of your life must
encourage respect, for respect can be demanded, but isn't worth much unless
it is freely given. Together let us sweetly live - we are bound for
the land of Canaan.
"The right word spoken at the right time is as beautiful as gold apples in a silver bowl." (Proverbs 25:11 New Century Version)
Understandings
Words mean different things to different people. And depending on your cultural background, you will have various levels of success in communicating your thoughts with others. A word like 'obey' can be so emotionally loaded because of the context in which it has been used for an individual that they will not use that word in any other context. The word's core meaning, or denotation, means something neutral, yet the connotation, the associative meaning, carries the biases of each individual. It is only when we begin to understand the backgrounds of those with whom we communicate that we can understand the connotations they use. Sometimes it is best to choose another word or combination of words to ensure that communication occurs successfully. It is easier for you to change the words you use than for someone to change the associations they have with words.
Of course, this is because, for many, perception forms reality.
And whatever limited experience I have becomes a generalization that defines
my reality. Let's take a step back when we have discussion with others,
and let's realize that perhaps they are correct and you are correct as
well, and validate their observations, perceptions, and conclusions.
And let us speak words of gold and silver that will help them to find their
way Home.
"Immediately Jesus told his followers to get into the boat and go ahead of him across the lake. Between three and six o'clock in the morning, Jesus came to them, walking on the water. Peter said, 'Lord, if it is really you, then command me to come to you on the water.' But when Peter saw the wind and the waves, he became afraid and began to sink. He shouted, 'Lord, save me!'" (Matthew 14:22,25,28,30, New Century Version)
We live lives based upon tradition and structure, to an extent. What we accept from our parents and our society, and what we decide on the basis of our limited perceptions may become a framework for our personal operation that has not been tested as authentic, and while it may work, it would not be the only way, or the best way. The structure and tradition can be likened to a boat.
Boats, depending upon the nature of their construction, vary in their ability to convey one safely on the water. And depending upon how rough the waters are, some boats demonstrate very quickly whether or not they are sea-worthy. But in the midst of a storm, many would rather be in the boat, or out in the water. And normally, those are the only two options: IN the boat, or IN the water. Few perceive ON the water to be an option, and for many it is not.
But when Jesus enters the scene of action, the possibilities change. When we confirm Jesus' power in our lives, "Lord, if it is really you..." new possibilities open up that free us from reliance upon the boat's structure and rigidity to feel safe. At this point, we welcome new ways of operating, new paradigms: "then command me to come to you on the water."
Walking on water is no ordinary feat. And in fact, people cannot normally walk on the water. It is only when Jesus empowers the walker that the ordinary individual can do the extraordinary. This does not mean that being in the boat will not convey you safely on the water. It does mean that there is another way of being safely conveyed. If we close our minds and believe that Christ cannot convey us in a way that is removed from our structure and tradition, then we will not accept his invitation and will miss out on a vibrant new faith-building experience.
So Christ calls us to take a risk. "He that would save his life will lose it, and he that will risk his life for my sake will gain it." Relying up on our traditions to keep us safe and secure is really relying on ourselves. Christ calls us to something deeper: full and complete reliance on Him. There's a land where they walk on water!
"And don't it make you wonder why
So many people gave their lives
For the promise of what lies
Over on the other side
Take a walk with me
Take a walk and see
There's a land where they walk on water
Take a flyin' leap
To a world that's free
We can build for our sons and daughters
Something better, something more
There is life worth livin' and dyin' for
So c'mon people we can fly
The 'Greater One' is on our side
It's harder to forget than try
And livin' here would be a lie
So take a leap of faith and I'll
See you on the other side
Take a walk with me
Take a walk and see
There's a land where they walk on water
Take a flyin' leap
To a world that's free
We can build for our sons and daughters"
(Walk on Water, from Eric Champion, "Verticality" Written by: Charlie Hueni, Eric Champion & Tommy Sims)