Most everyone who has ever begun a study in leadership has probably heard of Stephen Covey’s “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” first published in 1989. Each chapter of his book is about one of the seven habits which are:
- Be Proactive
- Begin with the End in Mind
- Put First Things First
- Think Win/Win
- Seek First to Understand, then to be Understood
- Synergize
- Sharpening the Saw
The first three of Covey’s habits are about self-mastery and moving from dependence to independence. The second three are about working with others or interdependence. The last habit is about self-rejuvenation. As interesting and popular as the seven habits are, they fall short in terms of guiding the habits of Servant Leaders. Servant Leaders have a higher calling and must develop vastly different habits to be successful on a daily basis. We live in a rat race and as we move through our season of leadership, we are under constant pressure and temptation to be drawn off course by the failings of our friends, our families, our enemies and ourselves.
The role model for our servant leadership, Jesus Christ, was under the same pressures as we are as He walked the Earth. Through it all, He modeled 5 key habits to help Him stay on track with His mission and vision. These habits are the primary antidote He applied to counter the opposing forces in His life:
- Solitude
- Prayer
- Knowledge and Application of Scripture
- Accepting and Responding to God’s Unconditional Love
- Maintaining Accountability Relationships
Adopting these habits is essential for the Servant Leader. The greatest role model for Servant Leadership didn’t try to lead without them and neither should we. Each of the next five blog posts will be dedicated to one of the habits. Please look forward to them and prayerfully seek the guidance you need to adopt them.
Hello Sir,
Greetings. I read your article on the above page on 5 habits of Successful Servant Leaders. I was particularly interested to read about your involvement in the field of developmental Mental health. I am the father of a 28 year old young adult in the Autism spectrum. I am also involved with teaching and training of younger leaders in a non governmental organisation. I would like to chat with you on Leadership and Developmental disabilities. Appreciate your quick response.
Yours sincerely,
Marcus Chacko
Marcus,
I appreciate your kind thoughts and wish you the best with your endeavors. However, I am not an expert by any means in the field of mental health. I was appointed to the North Carolina Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services because I am a caregiver just as you are. I am not the right resource to provide input into your programs.