Serve Another

By Scott Anthony Ward

I worked for a guy once that had the maintenance crew of the company build him an ice-fishing house. Another time, another boss had the IT guys come to his home to set up his plasma screen TV and wireless network. At this company, the maintenance guy also cleared the boss’ driveway of snow when he was traveling.

The maintenance and IT personnel practiced good service. However, I can’t say the same for the boss-people. Maybe they justify it by saying they served their employees in other ways. We humans can rationalize nearly any action on our part. It always makes sense to us…even if it borders on theft of company “assets”.

Many organizations these days will show an organizational chart with the top management at the bottom of the page, and the levels with the least responsibility and authority at the top of the page. This is supposed to indicate that we have a servant leadership organization. As they say, “the proof is in the pudding” and “the talk is confirmed by the walk.”

In my years of leadership, I’ve asked my team how I can help them more or hinder them less. My job is to make them successful or get out of the way. If I’m not helping, then I’m hurting. My job is more to plan than to execute. Theirs is to execute more than plan. If I’m not providing the right education, tools, access to information and people, and time to do their jobs well, then I’m not helping. Their work is just as important as mine.

Also, based on research by the authors of The Progress Principle, employees are more motivated in their work when they experience progress or improvement. Thus our jobs as leaders is to help others make progress: helping them more or hindering them less.

Another way of not hindering someone: I never interrupt a conversation they’re having with someone else…unless it’s an emergency. I show up on-time for meetings, no matter who has scheduled them. This is not only a way to honor them; it’s a way of serving the organization, rather than the organization serving me. Everyone else’s time is valuable. Even if I’m paid more than other individuals, collectively tardiness costs the company more than my precious time.