In times of uncertainty it can happen that people's focus narrows to their own family, community or nation. History suggests that if in so doing we ignore the well-being of others, the difficulties may only deepen. Governments and nations, corporations and communities, families and friends are seeking ways to calm the storm.
Experience suggests that unless our response contains the ethic of service to all, there will be prosperity for none. Dr Martin Luther King put it simply, in challenging racism and segregation; "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." How to live together as a human family has been challenge a for millennia; when times are tough, the price of not doing so becomes higher still. Core to the idea of transformational leadership is the proposition that transformation begins with the individual leader. So, how can each of us try to deepen the ethic of service to all in our lives?
Making It Practical. By its nature, service is about what is in front of each of us, now.
1. Network for service. Whether you love it or hate it, getting things done as a leader involves a degree of networking. Here is a radical approach to networking from Srikumar Rao of London Business School. Network to serve. Rather than trying to find people who can be of use to you, identify someone to whom you can be of service, define what that is, and deliver it. In turning networking to service we can deepen the links of care and compassion that support us as a single human family.
2. What would happen if everyone did as I am doing now? This is a simple test of ethics and sustainability. It tests whether we are responding to a situation in a way that serves us at others expense. Consuming the earth's resources, dealing with our neighbours, managing personal finances - are our approaches to daily life consistent with the long term good of all? Identify one or two areas of life that you might review and assess if you can make a choice which serves others more fully. Make the change! From how we run our households, to how we treat people everyday, we are in constant interaction - what is our impact?
3. Optimism. Research (as well as common sense) is clear that optimism is a critical leadership capability. This is not about ignoring the facts - it is actually about embracing them fearlessly and still having the expectation that things will work out well. Reflect on your emotional impact this week - are you uplifting people through hope and optimism? Keep a diary and review your day.
From experience. "Last week, I sat with a man who had built an organisation to help young people to serve in order to bring about peace and prosperity in the city he lived in. Over the last few years, he has engaged hundreds of people and organisations in working together. I asked him what his motivation was. He moved into the city as a foreigner, he said. Looking for an opportunity to become involved, he had visited a lady who for over 15 years had collected and given out food and clothes every day to the poor of the city. He watched people come, take everything the lady had, and leave mostly without a word of thanks or acknowledgement. He asked her why she did it, when to his eyes the people she helped treated her no better than if they were robbing her. She told him that over the years she had seen a subtle change in some of the people; however apparently imperceptible, change was occurring. I realized that this is the transformational power of service. It transforms those who serve, and inspires others to do the same. And it offers the possibility of transformation to those who are served. All win. None are excluded."
