My experience of a Servant Leader
In Herman Hesse’s novel Journey to the East, we find a group of people engaged in a mythical journey. Amongst this group is a person named Leo who accompanies them as their servant doing all the menial chores. But he also has an extraordinary ‘presence’. He sustains the group through his spirit, enthusiasm and song. Everything goes well till one day Leo disappears. The group suddenly realises the key role Leo played in their journey. After he has left, the group begins to disintegrate, and the journey is abandoned. Many years later it is found that Leo is actually the head of a Spiritual Order. He is their highly respected leader.
Robert K. Greenleaf was influenced by this novel in creating the concept of ‘Servant Leadership’. Leo was a leader all the time he was with the group, but he was a servant first because that was what he was deep within. We shouldn’t mistake the ‘role’ for ‘mastery’. Just because one is a servant one can’t presume that the person doesn’t have ‘mastery’. And similarly, if one is a leader one can’t presume that the person does have ‘mastery’.
Very often we associate the word ‘servant’ as being derogatory, discriminatory, or even oppressive. And therefore, we cannot easily digest the understanding of being a ‘Servant Leader’. Instead of going through a theoretical understanding of ‘Servant Leadership’, I would rather share with you my experience of ‘Servant Leadership’ through our family servant, Sundarbai.
Sundarbai lived with our family for 54 years. She practically brought us all up especially while we were young. We were 3 brothers. Both our parents were working. She died in 1991 having no relations of her own and stated very clearly that we were her family. Today in the collage of photographs of the entire family which hangs in our home she has been given pride of place in the centre. Like Leo she was always an unassuming leader but a servant first.
She was one who placed others’ needs ahead of hers. She would eat after everybody else had eaten. She would silently stand by our table and anticipate our needs. Before one could even express what one wanted, it was there on the dining table. She was highly alert and focused.
She was trustworthy. Whether it be any of us, as children who were left in her care or the house kept in her custody, she could always be relied upon. She was a loyal steward. She realised that there was no passing of the buck. She couldn’t blame anybody if something was not done which was supposed to have been done. She understood her accountability for the jobs allotted to her. This is not to say she was perfect. There would be times when she would try to find excuses or try to avoid the blame but overall, deep down she felt responsible.
She had to do the same tasks every day. Yet she did not experience any boredom. Because she continually tried to seek joy in whatever she was doing. She constantly tried to improve the way she did her work. She would try new dishes or new ways of cooking the same dish. She would constantly search to bring newness into the boring routine of her work. She respected feedback and continuously tried to improve based on the feedback received.
She did not hanker after praise. Although at times she seemed like a petulant child demanding attention. But overall if praise came her way it was fine and if it didn’t come her way it was also fine. Her life was fulfilled in and through the act of serving. She experienced joy in seeing the growth of those she served. As children, she made us aware, when needed, that we were wrong. And cuddled and protected us when she felt we needed it. It was as if she looked after ‘every person, each person and the whole person’. She had a tremendous capacity for listening to all that was going on around her and that helped her in responding appropriately to the different situations she faced.
I saw her often just sitting in our garden and silently observing the trees and the birds and experiencing the healing ambience of it all. It is possible that she prayed during these times of silent contemplation. And it is possible that this ‘me time’ helped her gain strength to go on from day to day always with a smile. Always trying to bring happiness and peace to the home. Always supporting my parents in trying to build the type of home they envisioned.
She did not want to be the centre of attention and yet wanted to participate in the life of the family as fully as possible. Even though she always kept herself in the background, she was like a steadfast rock for the family.
She had very little material possessions. She was content with whatever she had. For her the members of our family meant everything. She accepted ‘unlimited liability’ for each one of us. She demonstrated this especially when any of us experienced a serious sickness or ill health.
The values of being a servant run counter to the values of pomp, power and position which are usually associated with a leader. ‘Servant leadership’ creates and sustains empowerment and growth from ‘within’. Coercive leadership imposes authority and suppresses from ‘without’ thereby stifling growth from ‘within’. What grows from ‘within’ lasts. What grows from ‘without’ corrodes.
I salute Sunderbai, our servant, who displayed immense wisdom even though illiterate. I have learnt a lot about life from just observing and experiencing her caring presence. God bless her soul.
