Valuing and appreciating others are vital parts of leadership because leaders work with people. Leaders who understand the practice of valuing and appreciating people for who they are and what they contribute are in a better position to serve as effective leaders in their organizations.
If leaders see people as their number one asset for the success of an organization, they will empower and release their followers encouraging them to serve others as the Bible says. This brings me to the notion of servant leadership. Servant leadership should be a part of the fabric of humanity because it is ordained by God.
God’s vision is for leaders to focus first on people rather than on tasks. Therefore, valuing and appreciating every individual employee should be among the highest priorities of the leader. The advantage of working in a company such as LHP is that leaders see themselves as servant leaders first and foremost. In the Bible, the apostle Paul does not refer to those he worked with as his followers. But rather, he often calls on those to whom he writes to follow his example.
How do you envision yourself as a leader? Author Jim Laub defines servant leadership as “an understanding and practice of leadership that places the good of those led over the self-interest of the leader.” So, servant leadership begins with valuing people as the first and foundational bases for all of humanity.
It is said that “leadership is the creation of an environment in which others are able to self-actualize in the process of completing the job.” If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a servant leader. A leadership style that values and appreciates the work of others is an important contribution to the success of an organization.
In the Bible, the lord demonstrates servant leadership style through valuing and appreciating his disciples by sacrificing himself. We find this when he feeds 5,000 individuals during his inspirational message saying that humanity should love each other unconditionally. It is a value that all of us should embrace as we celebrate our Christmas festivities. And as always, remember Never Give Up! Never Give Up! Never Give Up!
By Dr. Walter Ghosten
chaplain@lhp.net
