Page 98 - The Bible On Leadership

Humility 85

Humility means admitting that even the most powerful leader is not
totally in control, and that what ultimately makes leaders powerful is
not their personal charisma, but something deeper. As Steven Covey
writes:

Humility says, ‘‘I am not in control; principles ultimately govern and
control.’’ That takes humility because the traditional mind-set is ‘‘I am in
control’’ . . . This mind-set leads to arrogance—the sort of pride that comes
before the fall. [One is reminded of characters like King Saul, Samson,
and Haman here.] People are supposed to serve. Life is a mission, not a
career. 20

The great leaders of the Bible like Moses and Jesus realized that their
mission on earth was to serve a cause that was far greater than any one
leader or person. As a modern example, Gary Heavin of Curves for
Women feels a ‘‘call to greatness’’ is at the heart of his success. Ironically,
that greatness can be achieved only with humility. ‘‘If you really want
to be a great leader, you must be a servant leader,’’ he says. ‘‘Our com-
pany is an upside-down pyramid; I’m at the bottom—it’s my job to
serve.’’ Heavin has ‘‘served his way’’ into becoming the third fastest
growing franchise in the world. 21
ServiceMaster is a company literally founded on servant leadership.
Its 200,000 employees are in the business of serving others (mopping
and waxing floors, removing trash), and its leadership is in the business
of serving the employees. Charles Pollard, long-time CEO, cites ser-
vanthood as the linchpin of his leadership: ‘‘Too often, leaders sit in
large offices . . . and think they know and understand the people they
lead . . . Servant leaders listen and learn from those they lead. They . . .
avoid the trap that so many so-called successful leaders experience—the
arrogance of ignorance.’’ 22
There is no scarcity of feet to wash. The towels and water are avail-
able. The limitation, if there is one, is our ability to get on our hands
and knees and be prepared to do what we ask others to do.