How to Lead

Lately, I have been in conversation with good friends and family regarding business.  We've talked about the exciting things in business; the potential, how it feels when things are running well, what gets a person up in the morning and motivates them to do their best.

But we have also talked about the messy part of business; the rude customers, the people you just can't please, and the employee who is good but stirs it up and makes things difficult at times.

I just happen to be reading a book that tells how we should treat that specific employee.  Tony Dungy, in his book, Mentor Leader, wrote the following:

"One of the great object lessons in the Bible is found in John 13:3-8, right before the Last Supper, when Jesus washes the feet of the disciples:

      Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God.  So he got up from the table , took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin.  Then he began to wash the disciples' feet, and drying them with the towel he had around him.  When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"  Jesus replied," You don't understand now what I am doing, but someday you will."  "No", Peter protested, "you will never ever wash my feet!"  Jesus replied, "Unless I wash you, you wont belong to me."

So, in essence, Jesus was trying to change the mindset of the disciples to one of service.

Wash their feet.
Serve them.
Share the Good News.

"In our culture, what Jesus was doing would not be seen as a pathway to promotion or credit.  Yet, it's the  very path a mentor leader must take.  Humble servant leadership demonstrates to those you lead that you see them as valuable, and it's worth your time to serve them-not just when it's convenient, neat, and acceptable, but when it's timely, needed, and right.  Jesus, through His actions, showed us that servant leadership isn't theoretical lip service.  Instead, it's hands-on, get-yourself dirty, humble service,  In our day and age, with paved streets and closed-toe shoes, foot washing is no longer necessary.  But the principle is still valid.

What can you do in your organization to "wash the feet" of the people you lead?"