I Caught a Glimpse of Servant Leadership

A few weeks ago I put some feelers out for a good spring break read. My son in law, a voracious reader and writer of a blog entitled Literary Nachos (@LiteraryNachos), took me in his office and handed me Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek. I brought it home, glanced at the back cover, and put it on my nightstand where it would have to wait for a leisurely day of spring break sans lesson planning, data to analyze, papers to grade and enter, and...you get it...the proverbial never ending to-do list.

Every morning and every night I would glance at the book on the night stand. Leaders Eat Last. Hmmm. Interesting. Servant Leadership. The back cover captured my attention with quotes like, "Leaders run headfirst into the unknown" and "Leaders rush toward danger" and "Leaders sacrifice what is theirs to save what is ours". I thought to myself ... I'm married to that man! The acorn didn't fall far from the oak tree, because I raised three children just like that and now they each have spouses with similar qualities. Thus, the son in law who handed me the book! OK, I'm hooked. I can't wait for spring break.

 Then just a few days later, it snowed. Snow days at school are like no other, especially when the announcement is made that school is closing early for the day due to inclement weather. Teachers know. A 45 minute dismissal process can morph into 2-3 hours. And so it did. I watched our administrators leap into action, out in the snow, directing traffic and assisting students and parents. For hours they were in and out - mostly out - monitoring the process and providing direction until we were down to the last 25 or so students. Our principal, Mr. Parker, thanked the teachers and staff for a job well done and wished them safe travels as they braved the icy roads toward home.

 Lunch time had come and gone. Mr. Parker said, "It's time to feed these kids." Again, the administrators sprang into action. I stayed to help them set up an impromptu cafeteria line, preparing plates of warmed up pizza and a cooler of water for a picnic in the gym. At last, tummies were full, the kids were fed, and the mess was cleaned up.

As I recall, it was about 2:00. We were down to less than 10 kids, whose parents were, no doubt, stuck in one of those gridlock traffic jams. Once again, the school was calm. I felt things were well under control and it was time to go home. The hallway was quiet as I walked to my classroom to gather my coat and purse. No one saw it but me. It was Mr. Parker, making his way from his office to the teacher's lounge, lunch in hand. I saw it and and I immediately thought of the book on my nightstand... Leaders Eat Last. I realize that I had just caught a glimpse of a model of servant leadership. It was an object lesson to remember. My leader ate last.

Next week is spring break. I'm excited that I get to read the book on my nightstand; however, I recognize that I have already been inspired by leaders in my both my personal and professional life who put their own interests aside in order to serve, protect, and provide for others. What are the results of that kind of leadership? I read the back cover. "And when we feel sure they will keep us safe, we will march behind them and work tirelessly to see their visions come to life and proudly call ourselves their followers." Yep, that's it! That is what it means to be a leader. If you hang out with such a leader, chances are, you will catch a glimpse of it first hand!