I had the chance to spend the whole day with my two daughters, Maddie and Gloria, on Monday. My wife started back to school before them and I jumped at the chance to have a day all to myself with them. I’m so very grateful to have a business that affords me the freedom to do this when the opportunities arise.
After a day of playing, library-ing and swimming, I had the chance to stop and think about the relationship between my two girls and the person that Maddie (my 7 year old) is becoming.
It struck me yesterday that she IS a servant leader to her little sister (3 years old). I’m constantly looking to be inspired by leaders on a bigger stage who I can learn from and I realized I have it right in my own home. Maddie is self-less and loving and consistently makes personal sacrifices for the good of their relationship and peace in the family. As is the case with most 7 year olds (and 27, 37 and 47 year olds too), she is strong willed, not a pushover and wants her own place in the sun from time to time, but her serving nature soon returns. The mix of these parts of her character make for a powerful combination.
Maddie isn’t looking to build influence with Gloria but this is exactly what is happening before our very eyes. While Gloria has a very strong will in her own right, she adores her big sister and follows her lead.
Her leadership isn’t building an organization or accomplishing something noteworthy for the world to see, but make no mistake, it is leadership…servant leadership in it’s purest form
I’m curious who in your world is a role model of servant leadership. People who live with strong values, serve the needs of others and make personal sacrifices in a way that they build influence and others willingly follow them. Email me or comment below with the “everyday” servant leaders in your life.