Leaders watch for opportunities to bring hope and change things for the better. But what do we do when, in a moment, troublesome circumstances intervene?
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We’ve probably all experienced it — the phone call we have to make to some huge organization because we need assistance of some kind. If we’re lucky, there will be a live human being to talk to at the end of the seemingly endless recorded options. Recently, I had to call a very large insurance company. I was filled with confidence, as I’ve discovered the power of the speakerphone. The freedom was a beautiful thing as I went about my tasks hands-free and within earshot of the phone in case the voice on the other end came to life.
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In the world today, it seems like behavior involves the extreme in many ways. We drive faster, eat and drink to excess, and climb Mount Everest — to name just a few examples. Things seemingly need to be done in epic proportions to make any kind of impact.
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There’s nothing worse than manipulative leaders — people who will use whatever’s around them to further their own goals, dreams and aspirations. More and more, managers are finding smart ways to get other people to do what they want them to do — sometimes in ways that make them believe it was their idea!
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We’ve all either seen it or been around it. The people who walk into the room, dressed to impress, with that extra bounce in their step. They look the right way, accessorized with a bit of flash, shoulders back and feet square. They are trying to lean into every conversation, being present but not saying much. They have their business card ready to hand out and plenty of firm handshakes to distribute. These people are the picture of success, and they want everyone to know they have it all together.
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Does the mission and purpose of your company extend beyond your business and into the greater community? Servant leadership pioneer Robert Greenleaf said the measure of servant leadership was whether people were changed for the better after coming in contact with you.
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One of the exciting aspects of the servant leadership transformation is the realization that you play a part and are accountable in some way in every situation. We know one of the biggest issues for organizations today is lack of employee engagement. Here are some tips you can institute to create an engaging work environment for those you lead.
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Have you ever gone through a rough patch in your life or leadership journey? In my mind, I can see a collective nod from all of you and a chorus of, “Are you kidding?” Of course you’ve had problems or challenges.
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Understanding the way your boss thinks and responding as a servant leader or follower can improve your workplace experience. In part one of this blog we looked at five “secrets” about controlling leaders. Here in part two are some suggestions for responding to your controlling leader as a serving follower.
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As we head into a new year, I am challenging our team members to focus on what it truly means to Serve First. It’s easy to define all the ways we serve our families, our friends and our community, but it’s not always easy to define how we serve one another at work.
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Every organization has a culture. It may not be something you or your fellow employees think about or purposely work on, but it exists — for better or worse.
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Recently, I have traveled through some life circumstances that have been difficult for my entire family. It has caused me to reflect quite a bit, and one of the qualities I have thought about is hope. What a beautiful word “hope” is. Even the way we say it sounds good.
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As we entered Bakersfield, the bus driver announced we were making an unscheduled stop due to mechanical issues. Greyhound was going to have to send another bus to deliver us to our final destination. Of course, this didn’t sit well with any of the passengers, but Chris, Andrea and I were too exhausted to protest. We just wanted to get back to our campus — even if it was on a back of a donkey.
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When I was in college, my immediate family lived outside the U.S., so on holiday breaks, I would go with friends to celebrate with their families. One time, I went with Chris and Andrea to Northern California for Thanksgiving; we drove up together in Chris’ Honda Civic.
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“I like working with animals better than people.” I heard this admission from my coworkers many times during my career as a zoo veterinarian. These animal people would often say it with a measure of pride and conviction. In fact, that is exactly what I did early on as a college freshman.
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I fell in love with golf in my early 30s. It was love at first sight. I started out “worm burning” my way through the course; that’s a term used to describe a ball that hardy makes it off the ground and skims across the grass. But I believed I could be a better golfer, so I poured myself into the game. I took lessons from great teachers; I practiced, practiced, practiced, and played as much golf as possible while working full time; and I read every golf book I could get my hands on.
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This week, we offer you a glimpse of Vicki Floyd Clark, who will be joining us at the Servant Leader Conference 2019 and speaking with her own brand of wisdom, warmth, and humor. Vicki is a servant leader who speaks across the country, looking to influence leaders to serve and teaching them how to increase the capacity of their organizations. She is an example of one person making an impact. After viewing this clip, I was struck by a couple things:
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It happens every August or September — the morning rush of parents and kids returning to the school routine. It’s a frantic dance for many, culminating with a drop off at school or daycare or the mad dash for a parking spot at one of our local colleges and universities. Even those whose children are grown can feel it as the traffic takes on a whole new dimension. But for those who are parents, it makes you wonder — am I able? Can I do all this day after day, week after week, year after year.
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Have you ever daydreamed about something you might want to achieve, change or have in your life? Notice how often your mind will click through what it will take to achieve your desired goal, and then that little annoying voice in your head kicks in and asserts, “it’s too much to do — just never mind.”
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Our hospital manager knocked on my open office door. I looked up as she entered for our weekly meeting. Of all my activities and responsibilities overseeing the health of the animals at San Diego Zoo Global, few were more enjoyable and valuable than my one-on-one meetings with my managers. Each week, I would discover something of crucial importance. Our managers took to heart their huge job responsibilities; as a result, doing my job was much less demanding than it could have been.
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