Periodically I am the program manager for a national seminar company. As such, I am responsible for registering attendees, selling product, and assisting the speaker. I have done this enough to have seen a variety of speakers. All are experts in their fields. Some are very pleasant, others are all business. Some have clearly delineated lines between their job and my job. Others are much more willing to pitch in and help when registration or sales get busy. Still others have completely rearranged my system. The variety makes the job interesting and sometimes a bit frustrating.
Today I worked with a speaker who was different from the others. First thing in the morning, she helped moved boxes of product, then set up the display table. Normally this is entirely my responsibility. The speaker’s help left me free to set up the registration table and arrange the product we would sell. The morning, which is usually busy and a bit stressful as I rush around to get everything done, was pleasant and easy.
At one point, the speaker asked if there was anything she could help me with. She even said she was here to serve me. Technically, my job is to ensure she has everything she needs. I am to serve her, not the other way around.
Servant Leader
The phrase servant leadership comes to mind. It’s a phrase that is perhaps talked about more often than modeled. Today I had the chance to be on the receiving end of great modeling. It makes me wonder if I, in whatever position I am working at any given moment, approach people in a similar manner.
I tend to be all business, focused on what I’m doing and not really paying attention to what’s going on around me. Could I, in the process of getting the task done, take the opportunity to serve those around me? I’m challenged by the blessing the speaker was to me this morning to be a similar blessing to others! How about you? Do you see and take the opportunities to serve and bless others even as you lead? Is there room to be a bit more aware of those around you and make the tasks they do a little bit easier?