“If you believe in what you are doing, then let nothing hold you up in your work. Much of the best work of the world has been done against seeming impossibilities. The thing is to get the work done.”
Dale Carnegie
Since the days of ancient Rome, there have been servant leaders and servant leadership. By the time that Robert K. Greenleaf wrote the book The Servant as Leader back in 1970, the movement within organizations was gaining in popularity.
Mr. Carnegie, a servant leader well before the term was coined, discussed for decades that is takes a willingness to serve others to create great and sustained leadership. There are several aspects of servitude that makes a leader successful.
- Setting the example: People follow those who lead and teach by example. Enthusiasm for the message comes from those who deliver it.
- Caring for others:  The simple giving of one’s self in the organization for the betterment of the team is truly a passionate endeavor that creates success potential.  If the leader cares for others, good things happen.
- Honest responsibility: The giving and receiving of duties and commitments support the organization’s goals and objectives and make for teambuilding in day to day operations.
- Core is service: The foundation for leadership is only successful if an environment of serving others exists. Praising improvements and appreciating others are classic Dale Carnegie principles.
- The willingness to serve first and lead second: At the heart of servant leadership is indeed this leap of faith. Leading to excellence only happens when there is the clear and outspoken focus of help and support.
Just as participative or autocratic leadership exists within business organizations, so does servant-driven leadership. This unique commitment to growth is the best success enabler. The “thing is (indeed) to get the work done”; but it is how you do it that makes the difference.
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