The following phrase is the essence of Servant Leadership. A leader’s time must be actively spent in making others succeed. Imagine the morale of an organization whose leader thrives on the success of subordinates, this almost sounds too good to be true. Noel Tichy’s concept of a learning organization embodies a group led by a person who feels most satisfied when others are growing and maturing. Steven Sample writes about some of the basic advice he received for his career by a George Clements, deputy director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education. “You should spend a small amount of time hiring your direct reports, evaluating them, exhorting them, setting their compensation, praising th

Genesis 4:9 Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" NIV College basketball fans turn their attention each spring to March Madness, otherwise known as the NCAA Tournament. It's a hoop-junkie's dream come true. Four weeks of "win-or-go-home" basketball featuring the best teams in the land. However, what if they did not keep score or if they just played for fun? It does not work that way in athletics, and seldom works in the professional world or ministry. We set goals, we measure results and, we win or go home depending upon how well we do against the competition. So when we are making key decisions as leaders ask this q

The average leader will manage a team, work with the same individuals, yet hardly know anything about them! These leaders have never prioritized acquainting themselves with the dreams, thoughts, hopes, opinions, and values of those they lead. Conversely, the best leaders are readers of people. They have the intuitive ability to understand others and often discern how they feel; they recognize what their people sense. One obstacle to getting to know people is leaders overestimate the amount of time and effort needed to get to know someone. In fact, in only one hour in private a conversation, one could ask three questions and find the passion of one’s life: Three Life-Revealing Questions: 1. W

Personal motivation while important does not guarantee that one can develop a growing leader. If one remains enthusiastic and encourages others, it will not necessarily grow leaders. While staying enthusiastic or encouraging others are outward actions and are good, there is something internal that a leader of people who wants to develop leadership must possess. A leader’s behavior must be influenced by some crucial inward beliefs. Some people have an easier time at embracing these inward beliefs than others. Those leaders who become the best at developing people are different in three areas: Make the right assumptions about people Ask the right questions about people. Give the right assista