SERVANT LEADERSHIP: PERSPECTIVES OF A MARSHALLAN AS DISCIPLE OF CHRIST – W/Bro Ernest Amoako-Arhen (Deputy Supreme Knight) at the Forum for Office Bearers – Accra West Regional Council and Court
24th January, 2015
Introduction
Regional Grand Knight, Regional Noble Lady, Grand Knights, Noble Ladies, Regional Office Bearers, Distinguished Brothers and Sisters.
The pleasure is mine in accepting to share some thoughts with you on emerging leadership traits.
I thank the Regional Grand Knight, Regional Noble Lady and the Advisory Board for the platform given me. I am highly delighted and appreciative. We are here to uplift your awareness and perceptions to the ideals of a Good Marshallan. It is a passion to serve Catholics in the Marshallan Fraternity and to serve Mother Ghana.
We have tremendous potential for growth. We seek good men who are looking to become great men. Make that man a Knight and make that Knight a better man. Watch your speech, speak words that will edify your hearers. Ephesians 4:29
I am privileged today to speak on the topic:
SERVANT LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVES OF A MARSHALLAN AS DISCIPLE OF CHRIST
As Servant Leaders how do we achieve our vision, mission and objectives as Marshallans.
Behold, l will do a new thing — Isaiah 43:19
The world is constantly changing, old systems and approaches no longer work. Seasons change, Needs change, And people change. That is why God constantly introduces fresh and new things.
The world is today closer to us in Africa and the Marshallan is challenged by current technological and market upgrades to move the Society forward; if we can find new and better alternatives of doing things, our set targets can be achieved.
Servant leadership focuses on the people who lead the group. It does not rely on charisma, reliance is upon service. There is a reciprocal relationship.
We have come to a period where servant leadership should be entrusted to the youth (25 – 45yrs) of the Noble Order; this calls for total commitment, loyalty, and tolerance within our institution, with the adults mentoring and coaching.
The greatest challenge is whether the youth are ready and prepared to take us on a new leadership paradigm?
SERVANT LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVES OF A MARSHALLAN AS DISCIPLE OF CHRIST
Jesus, the greatest servant leader on the night he was betrayed, bearing the weight of his imminent crucifixion and at the same time stood up and washed the feet of the 12 disciples and forever modelled servant leadership (John 13:1-17).
This is a very popular leadership model; it is one of the greatest models of leadership. The servant leader serves the people he leads, which implies that Brothers and Sisters are an end in themselves rather than a means to an organisational purpose. Servant leadership is meant to replace command and control models of leadership, to be more focused on the needs of others. (Amos 3:7 – God does nothing without first revealing it to his servants).
What is leadership?
“Leadership is the capacity and will to rally men to a common cause and the character which inspires confidence”. (Lord Montgomery)
“A leader is one who mobilises; one whose focus is influencing people; a person who is goal driven; someone who has an orientation in common with those who rely upon him for leadership; and someone who has people willing to follow him”. (George Banna)
Political, Social, and Religious leadership should be about service to humanity to improve upon their lives.
A good leader identifies himself with the vulnerable and underprivileged and provide their needs.
Learn the art of concentration; Concentration is the key to great achievement. Concentrate on your vision.
TYPES OF LEADERSHIP
Charismatic
Transformational
Transactional
Servant
What is servant leadership?
A process made up of interdependent practices. It is the combination and complimentary events that construct the philosophy and principles of servant leadership.
Numbers 12:6 – Listen to my words when a prophet of the Lord is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams.
The servant leader is servant first. It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. This conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is different from one who is leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions. The leader-first and servant-first are two extreme types. The difference between serving and leading is expressed through the intuitive insights by the servant to first ensure that the highest priorities of others are being served.
The best test of servant leadership and the most difficult to administer is:
Do those served grow as persons?
Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, more autonomous, freer, more likely themselves to become servants?
And what is the effect on the least privileged in society? Will they benefit or not be further deprived?
Caring for persons, the more able and the less able serving each other, is the rock upon which a good society is built. If a better society is to be built, one that is more just and more loving, one that provides greater creative opportunity for its people, then the most open course is to raise both the capacity to serve and the very performance as servant of existing major institutions by new regenerative forces operating within them.
The servant leader builds his strength, energy and capacity from the members.
What do Servant Leaders do?
Devote themselves to serving the needs of brothers and sisters
Focus on meeting the needs of those they lead
Develop members to bring out the best in them (Be an encourager)
Coach members and encourage their self-expression (Let the conversation centre around others and what they are doing rather than yourself and what you are).
Facilitate personal growth in all who work with them
Listen well to build a sense of community and joint ownership.
They are more effective because the needs of followers are so looked after that they reach their full potential, hence perform at their best. A strength of this is that it forces us away from self-serving, domineering leadership and makes those in charge think harder about how to respect, value and motivate people reporting to them.
It applies best in politics, associations, council and court levels, and community clubs where elected officials are required to serve their members or citizens.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SERVANT LEADERS
LISTENING:
The ability to quiet oneself and listen receptively. How to be an active listener and how to recognise the vantage point of another person. They are found to be nurturers, holders of trust, and are committed to the personal and professional growth of others both individually and collectively. They operate with integrity and respect.
EMPATHY:
The willingness to view a situation from the other person’s perspective. The need of people to be respected and recognized for their uniqueness. It leads to understanding. Has the task of appraising the task of all participants without being influenced by emotion or bias. These two concepts reflect their sense of humility and their connection to humanity.
HEALING:
The capacity for healing oneself and others. Healing starts within the individual. Is found within oneself, so the individual is able to influence others.
They help a variety of emotional hurts of the people with whom they come in contact.
AWARENESS:
General awareness, and especially self-awareness, strengthens the servant leader. Requires an act of faith. He has the strength and ability to face the problem and find a solution. Must learn to influence the fears that are imbedded in the society.
PERSUASION:
Servant leaders seek to convince others, rather than coerce them into compliance. He relies on persuasion and is effective at building consensus within groups.
CONCEPTUALIZATION:
Must look beyond the realities of daily responsibilities. Thinking beyond a day-to-day focus and a willingness to look into the future.
FORESIGHT:
Enables the servant leader to understand the lessons from the past, the realities of the present, and the likely consequences of a decision made for the future. It allows the difficult experiences to become lessons learned.
G O V E R N A N C E
Ensure good Governance practices – These will be isolated for emphasis:
Participation
All men and women should have a voice in decision-making either directly or through legitimate institutions that represent their interests.
Transparency
Built on the free flow of information. Processess, institutions and information are directly accessible to those concerned with them, and enough information is provided to understand and monitor them. Decisions are enforced in a manner that follows rules and regulations.
Rule of Law
Legal frameworks should be fair and enforced impartially. Constitutional provisions must be adhered to.
Responsiveness
Serving the needs of all members as well as stakeholders.
Effectiveness and Efficiency
Producing results that meet needs while making the best use of resources. Doing the Right thing and Doing things Right.
Accountability
Decision-makers are accountable to the members. The efficient use of funds, property, manpower.
Integrity
Members must demonstrate the principles of uprightness, sincerity, trustworthiness, purity, respect and honesty in all their transactions. A moral set of principles for ethical behaviour.
R I T UA L S
Spend time to read and understand the rituals/practice it.
Observe the Catholic ethical and moral values.
CONCLUSION
Whenever a nation has a lack of quality, legitimate and just leaders, national deterioration occurs.
In the message of Pope Francis for the World Day of Prayer & Vocations in May :
“No vocation is born of itself or lives for itself. A vocation flows from the heart of God and blossoms in the good soil of faithful people, in the experience of fraternal love. Let us dispose our hearts therefore to being good soil by listening, receiving and living out the word, and thus bearing fruit. The more we unite ourselves to Jesus through prayer, Sacred Scripture, the Eucharist and lived in the Church and in fraternity, the more there will grow in us the joy of cooperating with God in the service of the Kingdom of mercy and truth, of justice and peace.”
My Sisters and Brothers, always Remember Your Journey – Deut. 8:1-19
Remember your past – Fears, Failures, Frustrations, Temperament, Emotions
Remember your present – Sober, Born again, Reason/Analyse, Walking with Jesus
Nobody is problem free; one problem is over and another crops up/ be prayerful
(Do not curse darkness, light your candle – Obey the commandments)
Remember the people in your life – Temporal, Permanent
I thank you for the attention.
24/01/2015