“I don’t know what your destiny will be, but this I know:
The only ones among you who will be truly happy are those who will have sought
and found, how to serve.”
Albert Schweitzer
The best of leaders are
the first to serve, putting others before themselves. The servant leader is the one who is the
first to volunteer to help, never too proud to do work, even the difficult or
unpopular jobs in order for the team to succeed. Those jobs are often done without anyone knowing because there is
no complaining or comparing. The
servant leader is reliably and consistently a servant for the others.
“It is true that you can succeed best and quickest by
helping others succeed.”
Napoleon Hill
The servant leader has
enough self confidence that they are unafraid of being first, of
potential failure and of looking silly.
They are not threatened by success of others and are the first to take
responsibility for mistakes. A sincere,
and self-confident, “my fault”, brings others together.
“From what we get, we
can make a living; from what we give, we make a life.”
Arthur Ashe
The servant leader has
embraced the self-discipline of being part of a successful team
and can avoid immature and unhealthy situations. They work just as hard whether or not they are being watched or
measured.
“Before you can be externally competitive, you must be
internally cooperative.”
Mike Fratzke
Selflessness is exemplified in all aspects of their life. Their ego and individual goals do not get in
the way of the larger picture of team goals.
They understand that personal recognition is not the path toward team
success and understand that the most recognition always should go to the
team. Teammates are often in need of
personal help and the servant leader is there when needed.
One of the most
fundamental responsibilities of successful team leadership is to eliminate
selfishness. Selfishness on the team
level or with an individual player will destroy a team faster than anything
else.
“To lead people, walk
behind them.”
Lao Tzu
The servant leader is a positive
role model for others by action and word.
Their effort is never questioned, their positive enthusiasm is never
hidden and their sportsmanship demonstrates respect to teammates, opponents and
to the spirit of the game.
“All those who exalt themselves will be humbled and all
who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Matthew 23:12
Roles within a team:
One of the best examples of being a servant leader is when a
player takes the step from independence to interdependence and accepts a role
on a team. Choosing to play a game
where there are multiple roles necessary for team success is a test of
character, commitment and leadership. A
“team-first” servant leadership attitude allows people to accept roles that
make others better. Great teams have
servant leaders who each make their own unique contribution to the groups’
success. At least one player needs to
have the skills to perform each of the duties necessary for the team to
collectively function. For example,
each basketball team must have passers; every volleyball team must have a
setter, etc.
Although some roles appear to have more importance than
others, in reality it is the combination of skill (roles) that allows a team to
reach its ultimate potential. Roles
give players an identity. Having a
group of people who understand and consent to filling all the roles begins the
process of building a “team identity”.
“A champion team will beat a team of champions.”
Unknown
Roles can either be a force that binds the team together or
creates jealousy between the individual parts.
Roles can either be seen as “limiting” or “contributing” depending on
the view of each participant. The
servant leader accepts and embraces a role that will make others and the team
better, and sees each role as having the same value within the team. Although they may continue to work to expand
the role they play on the team, they do not look at roles with a jealous
eye. The more each servant leader
embraces their role, the more personal glory is spread to all members of the
team.
Team confidence is derived from effectively performing a
role within a team that will allow a player to invest more energy and bring
more positive power to the group. A
team of servant leaders who have the self-confidence and discipline to have
unselfishly embraced their roles and serve others first, will always be much
stronger than a group of talented individuals.
For more information on NAIA Champions of Character
please visit www.championsofcharacter.org
or email us at championsofcharacter@naia.org.
