How is service connected to leadership - Day 6 - 6.23.10

Before I get in to the question "how is service connected to leadership?", I think first we must ask "is service connected to leadership?" Both of these questions have not found an easy answer in my mind yet, as there are times they seem dichotomous to one another and other times they seem to be very closely aligned. 

As Dr. Jerene Mortenson (2010) shared with us the story of her son in Afghanistan, at first light many may think, what a great leader he was. He has built all these schools, met with high Afghani officials, and really had an impact on a whole nation of people. While this is true, the story of Greg Mortenson is really one of complete service. Greg got lost in the mountains while attempting to climb K-2. His work began simply as giving back to the people who helped to save his life. Returning the favor of building a school for this small community became a driving force in his life, his mission. Greg had seen a need that this community wanted and needed and he dedicated himself to finding a way to make that happen for them. That clearly is service.

As Greg went on to build this school, he had to go through a transformation in order to find the best way he could support this community in building a school. Greg brought his own mental models or understandings as to how to complete this task. Dr. Mortenson (2010) shared that Greg had to learn that "you have to build relationships first. Don't take over and be the boss, let the people do what they can. Build relationships. Listen. Stop being arrogant." These type of statements would lead me to believe that Greg was continually reminded that he came there to provide a service, not to step too far into the leadership role.

However, maybe that is what leadership is really all about...service. Kent Peterson (2010) indicates that when leading and shaping school culture, "people are key in building the culture." Doesn't this match exactly what Greg was learning? Our jobs as leaders many times slip into being roles of managers. I think the true leadership is when you can fully immerse yourself into the culture, find what the culture needs from their perspective, and find ways to help them achieve that. Let's be honest, that is harder than one might think because often times our arrogance as leaders tells us we have answers to fix the problems that may exist. 

Leadership that spawns out of service is the kind of leadership we are talking about here. Servant leadership. Tightly woven, tightly connected. 

Mortenson, J. (2010, June) Three cups of tea: A mother's perspective. Lecture delivered at Summer Institute at Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, WI.

Peterson K. (2010, June) Leading and shaping school culture. Lecture delivered at Summer Institute at Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, WI.