There are two kinds of business leaders. There are those that need to have control over people so that they can make themselves king and the business is just a mechanism to bring this about. The other type of business leader is a servant that has no need for personal glory or recognition, they just want to do whatever it takes to make the business grow and work effectively. The king maker has all the answers and looks for people to acknowledge that and follow him or her, even if it means over the cliff. The servant leader is only interested in finding the best answers no matter where they come from in order to help the organization move forward. For this person the organization is the star not the individual and they are content to have their identity swallowed up in the organization, they believe in the collective efforts of the whole. For the King maker it is critical that the organization shines light on their abilities and talent.
World changing innovation can come from kings or from servants but the advantage of consistency goes to the servant. When you have the attitude of servant it helps to see the needs of the market place and involve others in the vision to create products and services to fulfill that need. It means you have a real genuine care for those you serve and want to improve their experience, whether it is a senior citizen struggling with a walker or a tamper proof medicine bottle for children or a disabled employee struggling with their job. Being a servant at heart gives a much different view of the world and its need than the view from an isolated golden tower where everyone is serving you. It is the vision that unites people into a common goal and purpose not the king and the vision of a servant is far more likely to see and serve the needs of societies with value adding products and services. The vision of the king is much like the one Marie Antoinette gets credit for when told that the peasants had no bread. Her vision was so altered from being royalty that she was completely blind to the needs that were surrounding her. It is pretty hard not to be shielded from seeing the needs of many when you become successful but working hard to have the vision of a servant will always help bring focus to innovative opportunities to serve!
World changing innovation can come from kings or from servants but the advantage of consistency goes to the servant. When you have the attitude of servant it helps to see the needs of the market place and involve others in the vision to create products and services to fulfill that need. It means you have a real genuine care for those you serve and want to improve their experience, whether it is a senior citizen struggling with a walker or a tamper proof medicine bottle for children or a disabled employee struggling with their job. Being a servant at heart gives a much different view of the world and its need than the view from an isolated golden tower where everyone is serving you. It is the vision that unites people into a common goal and purpose not the king and the vision of a servant is far more likely to see and serve the needs of societies with value adding products and services. The vision of the king is much like the one Marie Antoinette gets credit for when told that the peasants had no bread. Her vision was so altered from being royalty that she was completely blind to the needs that were surrounding her. It is pretty hard not to be shielded from seeing the needs of many when you become successful but working hard to have the vision of a servant will always help bring focus to innovative opportunities to serve!
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