Every day, we set out to follow someone or something, we will be led in the right direction. We follow a mentor, follow our instincts, follow the crowd...Whether your journey leads you to follow the yellow brick road to home, or follow the rainbow to the pot of gold, it's a path of faith, with the outcome dependent upon your perceptions of the best way to get there.
I stumbled upon an old legend about a French monastery known throughout Europe for the extraordinary leadership of a man known only as Brother Leo. Chasing down the legendary leader in hopes that he would impart some of his gift of wisdom, several monks began a pilgrimage to visit Brother Leo. Traveling together, their group dynamics led to some conflicts, as is always the case. Who would fetch water? Who would build the fire? Who would cook and serve? This was a group sadly in need of a leadership workshop. They were missing the key to leadership, and conflict would rise at every corner.
On the third day they met another monk going to the monastery, and he joined them. This man never complained or shirked a duty, and whenever the others would fight over a chore, he would gracefully volunteer and do it himself. This example of servant leadership had a ripple effect. By the last day, the others were falling in step with the same approach, choosing to lead by serving, rather than getting caught up in the drama, and from then on they worked together smoothly.
When they finally reached the monastery, they asked to see Brother Leo. The man who greeted them at the gate laughed.
'But our brother is already among you!' He said, pointing to the monk who had lately joined them.
What changed the dynamics of this group? The fact that one person chose to be the catalyst---the change agent---instead of being a sponge.
It's easy to be a sponge. Think about it--they just sit around, soaking up whatever they are dropped into. Whether it's clean, soapy water, or icky muck, the sponge doesn't think about it--he just does it. Soaks it all up. Consequently, he just becomes a part of whatever element he has absorbed--good or bad. That's the problem with just being a follower.
Leaders are catalysts. They don't just soak up whatever is imparted to them. Being a servant leader doesn't mean your passive, or pushed around, or taken advantage of. It means you CHOOSE to step out and have the courage to push back the tide in a different direction. It requires thought, self-control, and sometimes even a little detachment in order to maintain your focus.
Dare to be different. Instead of getting caught up in a victim mentality, look around you and see the good you could be doing. Look for opportunities to turn your back on the complaining and pity parties, to see where your abilities, or even just your availability, could help someone else with bigger problems. Make it a habit to bite your tongue when you are tempted to engage in the negative yammering, and break through the conversation with a polite inquiry about something else...."How is your grandmother doing? ...Did your sister in law get to go home from the hospital?....Do you have any special plans for New Years? That is the prettiest necklace--where did you get it?"
Most of all, don't forget to bring the love. It's the most powerful thing you can do to disrupt a negative vibe in your environment. Make a serious effort to be a Godly example of kindness and a concern in a way that shows you care, without getting caught up in the drama. It's not just for the sake of keeping the peace, or building a positive workplace, although these are the fruits that inevitably fall from this servant-leader tree...it's our mission to be the catalyst.
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden...let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." -- Matthew 5:14-16
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