Servant Leadership
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
at 10:27am
I recently heard this powerful example of Servant Leadership and wanted to share it with you:
“During the American Revolution, a man dressed in civilian clothes rode past a group of soldiers repairing a small stronghold. Their leader, from astride his horse, shouted instructions.
The man asked the supervisor why he wasn’t helping.
He answered, “Because, sir, I am a corporal!”
The stranger apologized, dismounted, and joined the exhausted soldiers at work. When the job was complete, he turned to the corporal and said, “Corporal, next time you need more men for a job, go to your commander-in-chief, and I will help you again.”
Too late, an arrogant corporal realized: his new workman was the beloved General George Washington. He also understood why Washington inspired devotion. A true leader is first of all a servant.”
This story reminds us that great power comes from being a humble, selfless leader who is dedicated to a cause. People respect a leader who’s not afraid to get their hands dirty. It’s no wonder a name like George Washington is so respected in our country!
What type of leader are you?
Joe Kiedinger
Action Plan: Attend one of the Servant Leaders of Wisconsin upcoming meetings!
Wednesday, February 1st, 2012
at 10:32am
I have a best friend whose name is Todd. My wife says that Todd and I are like women. I said, “What does that mean?” She said, “You talk for hours on the phone.” I must admit that he is the only guy I can talk with for hours on the phone. We text each other every other week or so and then he’ll say, “Wanna go out?” That means, since we are 90 miles away from each other, would you like to connect on the phone tonight. We have a couple of beers, as if we’re going out on the town, and we discuss our business successes and stresses, family successes and stresses, and give each other advice. Sometimes we just listen to each other and offer no actual advice.
Todd owns the Chef’s Hat in Ephraim, Wis. A beautiful café located along the shores of Eagle Harbor. His family lives above the restaurant and enjoys many stunning views from the second floor. The one thing Todd and I have in common is that we both have a strong belief in what we are trying to accomplish. When he started his business, he refused to have fryers and serve fried food. Since starting mine, I have remained committed to the message of Servant Leadership and the Prophit Marketing System.
The momentum is growing because people are finally listening, and, in Todd’s case, they are eating his wonderful culinary concoctions. We both have a long way to go, but my point is this: If something is worth doing, it’s worth being patient for. There are too many talented and innovative people who give up before their ideas have a chance to blossom! Fine wine needs time to ferment. People grow wiser with age and ideas need a chance to sink in. Be patient—the world is depending on it!
Joe
ACTION PLAN: Relax … everything has its time and day. You’ll have yours, too!
Wednesday, January 18th, 2012
at 10:06am
Do you know how deep you are? Have you ever had the discussion way down deep where nobody goes? You know that voice that talks to you and says, “you’re not good enough. You can’t do that!” It’s the voice of sabotage. Are you AFRAID to be successful? There is so much you were designed to accomplish so why is it some people are wildly successful and some people, who are often smarter and more talented, only achieve mediocrity? FEAR! So where does the fear come from?
There are people who believe they can only charge X amount for their services. For example, I have seen business consultants who may charge $1500 a day for their services. I have seen similar coaches charge $5,000 a day. There are speakers who can get $30K a speech! Why is that? Well, it’s simple: The high-priced speakers no longer listen to the voice in their head that says, “You can’t charge that!” Oh, they have the voice—they just don’t listen to it.
Now, put money aside … what about starting a movement? Do you think you can start a movement that touches people’s hearts and stimulates their brains? Whether you think you can or can’t … YOU’RE RIGHT! There are a small handful of people who I’ve faced from time to time who cut down my ideas. They’ve tried to sabotage my dream of creating a global community of Servant Leaders. “Impossible!” they say. At times I do have weak moments where I doubt my efforts. Then I shut down that voice inside me that wishes me to fail and I keep pushing. I’m fortunate. There have been other amazing people who have traveled before me on this journey to make my road less stressful. People like Ghandi, Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King, Jr. In recent years, there has been Robert Greenleaf, Jim Hunter, Tom Thibodeau, the Skogen family and others. Live for what you believe in because nothing else matters!
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: Shut down your inner voice of sabotage!
Wednesday, January 11th, 2012
at 10:10am
My Servant Leadership journey has been a powerful one, this past week especially. On Friday I had the opportunity to spend the day with about 85 of the staff at Silver Lake College in Manitowoc, Wis. This small private Catholic college blew me away as we started the day-long convocation. Fifteen of their staff members led the group in a Servant Leadership reflection, which had my eyes welling up as I stepped up on stage. The reflection lasted only 15 minutes but the quotes and sharing were powerful. I thought I would share some of the quotes that I heard.
Lau Tzu:
”A leader is best when people barely know he exists. When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: We did it ourselves.”
John Quincy Adams:
”If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are the leader.”
Fr. Keith Clark:
”Next to the words ‘thank you,’ we believe the words ‘what do you think?’ are the most empowering words a leader can speak.”
Joseph P. Chinnici, O.F.M.:
”I believe that when we can see all of this in the same field—then we will catch the ‘bug’… of being a Franciscan intellectual, and we will discover a voice, and we will learn to treasure – in a profound way – each other’s voice; because, no matter what the language, I sit and learn and teach and that way we become brothers and sisters together.”
Although my presence there was to share the VOICE we all have as unique individuals through the lens of Servant Leadership, I left feeling, in the presence of those Servant Leaders, that I gained more than I had to give.
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: Use “what do you think” in your conversations at least five times this week.
Wednesday, January 4th, 2012
at 10:19am
I hope you enjoy this story.
Background: Danica and I purchased a commercial building over a year ago and have our office on the second floor. The first floor has two tenants who lease from us: a restaurant and a hair salon.
What happened: Over the Thanksgiving holiday, our salon tenant abandoned his lease obligations, took his computer, and sent a text to me saying he was done! There were two stylists still working at the salon. Danica and I immediately reached out to them, and we all met at the salon the Saturday evening of Thanksgiving weekend to discuss the situation.
As you can imagine, these two individuals, Travis and Rossemary, were beside themselves. They were on the verge of panicking. First, their schedule was in the computer that the owner removed. Second, they didn’t know if they still had jobs! Danica and I told them we would take over the salon. We decided to rename it and create a Servant Leadership experience for all its current and future stylists as well as its current and future customers. So that’s what we’re doing. Thank goodness we own a marketing firm! In three days, we renamed it Salon Fifty Four (based partly on its address: 154 N. Broadway, Green Bay), changed the sign and got things moving.
However, through the transition of trying to find existing clients and dealing with the phone change, we are still trying to reach out to let people know that Rossemary and Travis are still in business! I’m hoping you can help me. I would take it as a personal favor if you would be so kind as to schedule one hair cut, color and styling, keratin treatment, or eyebrow waxing or threading. You can call either Rossemary or Travis at 920-432-0601. Bring in this Wisdom and receive 20% off any treatment as a THANK YOU!
I hope you don’t mind this plug. It literally happened so fast but I believe things happen for a reason. We’re excited about this new adventure, and I feel that we’ll be successful in our efforts at making Salon Fifty Four Green Bay’s premier location for talent and experience. Danica is loving it! What’s thrilling for me is that this is an opportunity to take our system and insert it into a hospitality business that we control. Lot’s of fun!
Here’s to the many adventures you will experience in 2012. Remember, with every situation there is an opportunity. Seize them!
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: Consider liking us on Facebook at facebook/salonfiftyfourgb
Wednesday, October 26th, 2011
at 9:58am
Wow, this Servant Leadership movement is spreading like wildfire! Currently we have four cities in Wisconsin that host quarterly Servant Leadership forums. Our chapter here in the northeast part of the state, Servant Leaders of Wisconsin, Fox Valley group, had more than 150 people attend our last meeting. Bob Chapman from Barry-Wehmiller was our guest speaker during the 90-minute gathering.
Our next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 14 from 1-3 p.m. at The Marq in De Pere. Our guest speaker will be Tom Thibodeau. He is engaging and fantastic! Tom teaches at Viterbo University in La Crosse and heads the only master’s program in Servant Leadership in the state. He received rave reviews when he spoke for 15 minutes at our first meeting back in May. If you attended the Festival Foods Jim Hunter event, Tom spoke on the stage.
Tom’s style and passion for Servant Leadership is based on civility in the community. His vision is to create the first Servant-led state! If you are at all curious on building your family, your business and your life around serving others, please attend our free event. You will be inspired—I guarantee it!
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: Seating is limited so please e-mail Meredith Bartos at meredithb@prophitmarketing.com to reserve your spot!
Wednesday, October 12th, 2011
at 9:28am
My wife and teenager were away for an evening which left me the opportunity to plan an appropriate activity with my three little girls, Joey’s Angels! I love impromptu planning. I decided I was going to take them to the new movie Dolphin Tale. The movie was playing in two theaters. Because I had to pick up my middle girl from a birthday party, we had to choose the later showing that was playing at 7:05 p.m. We entered the building, paid the obscene ticket price, and as we were walking away from the cashier the greeter said, “Oh, don’t forget your 3D glasses.” 3D? I thought. Cool! I was hoping my youngest would tolerate watching the movie with the ‘50s-style, black-rimmed glasses. I took a picture of the girls in the theater and sent it to Danica. It was a really cute sight.
The movie was touching and I recommend it, but what I really wish to share with you is the actual 3D experience. If you’ve never seen a 3D movie, the picture itself looks quite blurry if you are not wearing the special glasses. However once you put on the glasses and peer through the lenses, the picture appears vibrant and rich. This is the perfect analogy for how we view people. When we come across people who are not like us, we immediately begin to point out what is wrong with them because they “appear blurry.” It’s no different than if you had entered that movie not knowing it was 3D. If you had no previous experiences with 3D technology, you would jump to the conclusion that something is wrong with the projector or the film. I have developed the About Me Card program to remove the blur by offering what is in effect a pair of 3D glasses for viewing people for who they are and not the blurry, skewed view based on our past experiences and biases. Servant Leadership is getting out of your own way, stepping outside of yourself to serve and understand others.
There are a lot of perks that come with understanding people better. Would you believe it if I told you that my stress level has gone way down? Would you believe it if I told you my blood pressure has dropped? The anxiety of misinterpreting people is exhausting and bad for your health. I don’t waste my time anymore. I’ve replaced judgment with curiosity. Oh, I slip back to my old self once in a while, but I’m getting better. I encourage you to step out of yourself for awhile and view people through a different lens. It can help you, and you’ll love it!
Joe Kiedinger
Wednesday, September 21st, 2011
at 9:29am
My son, Alex, recently started his first job as a bagger at Festival Foods. His leader, Mary Kay, just held a three-month review on his performance. When Alex told me he had a three-month review, I thought, Already? His review lasted about 15 minutes and afterward he found me in the store doing some shopping. He had a smile that said “CONFIDENCE.” I asked him how it went. He said, “I’m a rock star!” and then gave me a broad smile. Later he told me how Mary Kay pointed out specific things he was doing right. She even gave examples from other leaders who noticed positive behavior. After building Alex up, she asked him a very powerful question: “What can I do to help make your employment here more enjoyable?”
This gave Alex an open door to share with Mary Kay how he likes variety and would be interested in learning how to be a cart runner and to be able to do both duties for a healthy variety. Mary Kay said, “I can do that.” She also asked him, “Where do you see where you can improve?” Alex shared his thoughts and Mary Kay made him feel that it was OK to make mistakes as long as we learn from them. I’ve been telling him that for years, but it took Mary Kay to remind him as his leader and direct him on how to improve for it to sink in.
Thank you to all leaders like Mary Kay who not only take the time to coach but take the time to listen. The leaders who have the guts to ask the most powerful Servant Leadership question, “What is it that I can do to help you?” Parents like me are depending on you to join our village and help our teenagers transition into becoming responsible adults.
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: Seek the feedback you need to help others you care about!
Wednesday, September 14th, 2011
at 9:24am
Tim was a young man who had just started his first real management job at a large electrical contractor in the greater Milwaukee area. Tim had never heard of Servant Leadership as a movement or a practice. Up until this first management assignment, he had been working for other companies and had been married for six years. He married young and he and his wife had two small children and a great relationship. Tim always came to work optimistic and could always see through obstacles as they came his way. The president of the company decided to spend some time with his young manager and began to teach him the philosophies and practices of Servant Leadership.
The president explained that if Tim wanted to lead, he first must serve. Tim’s leadership would not be evaluated by what HE got done, but by what he got done through others. The wise leader went on, “You first must understand yourself, then you must understand and serve one other person, and then you must understand and serve a group!”
Knowing that Tim had a young family, the president suggested he start by understanding and serving his wife. “Oh,” said Tim, “I’ve been serving her since the day we said, ‘I do.’ “
“How do you serve her?” the president asked.
“We’ve been married for six years and for six years I’ve kept a journal,” Tim replied. “Everyday I try to find some way to serve my wife. Unexpected flowers. Clean a room, the house or her car. Get up with the crying babies. I only count the service if it’s something she normally does or is responsible for.”
The president’s jaw dropped. The teacher had become the student.
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: Join us next week Wednesday, Sept. 21, from 3-5 p.m. at The Marq, 3177 French Road, De Pere, to learn about Servant Leadership. Robert Chapman, CEO and chairman of Barry-Wehmiller, will make a presentation about the company’s commitment to people-centric leadership, continuous improvement and disciplined growth that has helped transform it into a well-balanced and financially solid organization. Those interested in attending should RSVP (seating is limited) by contacting me with the number of attendees at joek@prophitmarketing.com
Wednesday, August 31st, 2011
at 9:49am
Corporate culture drives results. Improve the culture and you WILL improve the results. It’s why so many companies are investing in and evaluating their corporate culture. Beginning a culture change or shift is a senior leadership thing, not an HR thing. HR can assist and guide; however, the leadership team must be on the same page to ensure that the desired results from a shift or a change are achieved. When it comes to instilling Servant Leadership in your culture, you’ll want to focus on individuals along with results. Building a culture of accountability requires having measures in place to ensure that responsibilities are being met by each individual.
Building trust with your team is crucial for people to feel confident in making decisions and taking ownership of their individual responsibilities. This is a core element of Servant Leadership, and it begins with a simple understanding. First understand yourself, how you come across to others, and how people may perceive you. Then focus on understanding another person and then understanding a group. When you understand the beliefs and motivations of a team, real understanding can be created which leads to trust.
If the idea of a Servant Culture resonates with you, I invite you to become part of a movement we are starting that is growing across the state. Join Servant Leaders of Wisconsin, Fox River Valley Group, for our free quarterly meetings. On September 21st, Robert Chapman, CEO and chairman of Barry-Wehmiller, will share his people-centric philosophy that he and his team have replicated over and over in the dozens of companies they own across the world. Come to be inspired and meet like-minded people, and we’ll help you get started on your Servant Leadership journey.
E-mail me at joek@prophitmarketing.com to reserve your spot. Space is limited so please let me know how many will be attending. Meredith will send you more information on the event if you’re interested.
Change your culture, change your results!
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: Join us September 21st from 3-5 p.m. at The Marq. R.S.V.P. is appreciated.
About Me Card
