About 55 years ago, a man named Robert Greenleaf wrote an essay titled “The Servant as Leader.” He started an entire movement, which we know today as Servant Leadership. In essence, Servant Leadership is a philosophy and set of principles that enrich the lives of an individual, builds better organizations, and ultimately creates a more just and caring world. Servant leadership flips the traditional model and puts the CEO at the bottom in a supporting, serving role. The Servant Leader is a servant first. This represents departure from a leader-first approach, where leaders may prioritize acquiring power or material possessions. The basic pillars of Servant Leadership include: 1) LISTENING – You always know when someone is really listening. 2) EMPATHY – Empathy relates to sympathy, but goes deeper into an active sharing of the others' experiences. 3) HEALING – Healing relationships and bringing people together through dialogue and common experiences affects not just the people involved, but also the larger community. 4) AWARENESS – A Servant Leader is aware of their strengths and weaknesses and surrounds themselves with people that will complement those strengths and weaknesses. 5) PERSUASION – Persuasion is based on relationships built over time. A Servant Leader’s words and ideas can be trusted in times when discernment is needed. 6) CONCEPTUALIZATION – Articulating an organization's the lived experience into concise ideas or principles helps those involved move forward together. 7) FORESIGHT – Servant Leaders actively think ahead and consider the potential positive and negative consequences of decisions. 8) STEWARDSHIP – Servant Leaders keep the reputation and integrity of the organization in mind at all times. 9) COMMITMENT TO GROWTH OF PEOPLE – Servant Leaders want staff and volunteers to grow personally as they serve the organization. The goal is to become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous and more likely to become servants. 10) BUILDING COMMUNITY – Building trusting relationships is at the heart of building strong communities. Servant Leaders build trusting relationships. Listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, stewardship, foresight, commitment to the growth of people and building community. What do you think? Do you know people who possess these characteristics? In a world where the hunger for power is so evident, we must recognize and support those among us who choose a different path. Servant Leaders need your support! Reach out today and let them know they are valued and not alone in their quest for a just and loving world. --------------------- For more information about Servant Leadership go to www.greenleaf.org. Find Greenleaf's book, Servant Leadership on Amazon on Bookshop.org

Introspection...

Driven by FOMO, the Betty Brandt attends a "Hear Our Stories" event featuring formerly incarcerated individuals and discovers powerful narratives of transformation. The story of Montez Day, a former drug dealer who found purpose by teaching a fellow inmate to read, highlights the profound impact of these events and the importance of sharing stories of hope.

Why Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Matter

In this blog post, Betty Brandt explores her "Word of the Year," "stretch," and how it connects to reading challenging books like John Green's Looking for Alaska. Brandt argues that banned books, often tackling difficult topics like grief, mental illness, and social injustice, offer opportunities for intellectual and spiritual stretching, encouraging readers to confront reality and work towards positive change.

The Courage of a Compassionate Heart

Betty Brandt explores the importance of being a "non-anxious presence," particularly in stressful situations like school lockdowns. She discusses how anxiety can hinder one's ability to support others and suggests practicing calming techniques, drawing inspiration from the Civil Rights movement, to better manage fear and provide stability in uncertain times.

What Media Do You Trust?

Introducing The Garden Greenhouse Challenge