Beyond Sunday with Pastor Nic
Join me for a more personal look into the weekend sermons, as well as some thoughts on theology, marriage, parenting, and leadership. I will also explore some of your most asked questions throughout the year.
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Beyond Sunday with Pastor Nic
Adding Value Through Service: The Law of Addition Explained
Imagine a managerial style that prioritizes the growth and well-being of the team over mere targets and deadlines. We discuss the profound difference between leaders who focus solely on outcomes and those who invest in their team's development, inspired by Maxwell's guidelines and the ultimate servant leader, Jesus Christ. Hear how stories like Jesus washing the disciples' feet and powerful quotes from John Maxwell and Albert Schweitzer underscore that true leadership is about compassion and uplifting others. This episode is not just a guide but a heartfelt reminder that leadership is a noble responsibility to enrich others' lives. Join us as we embark on this transformative journey, promising to leave you inspired and equipped to lead with a heart of service.
Welcome back to Beyond Sunday, where we explore the principles of leadership and personal growth through John Maxwell's 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. At least, that's what we're doing for the month of July. In August, we will be back to sermon snippets and different ideas from scripture, but for this month I am focusing on growing my leadership, and so I'm throwing back to a book that I first read in my early 20s 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. If you've never read the book, I encourage you to go and buy it and read through it, as we're going through it together in the podcast. Otherwise, I'll at least give you the highlights.
Speaker 1:Today we're diving into the fifth law, the law of addition. This law states that leaders add value by serving others. Let's take a moment and unpack what this means and how we can apply it in our leadership. I've come to realize the profound impact of serving others. Early on, I focused more on task and outcomes rather than on the people I was leading. I'm a very task-oriented person. You give me a checklist and I'm in. It wasn't until I shifted my focus to serving and adding value to others that I saw a significant change in both my leadership effectiveness and the morale of those I led. This transformation taught me that leadership is less about the position and more about the positive impact you can have on others. Law of addition emphasizes that leaders add value by serving others.
Speaker 1:John Maxwell says that we add value to others when we truly value them and intentionally make ourselves valuable to them. Leaders must reflect on the following question Are you making things better for the people who follow you? If the answer is not unequivocally yes, then the leader is subtracting from those being led. Over time, this leads to loss of impact and division. Whether a leader cares more about service and positive impact on others than their own position, the leader adds value to others and themselves.
Speaker 1:Maxwell highlights four guidelines for adding value to others. The first is truly value others. He says serve others first, care, trust, be open and be vulnerable. Valuing others means recognizing their worth and treating them with respect and dignity. Number two make ourselves more valuable to others.
Speaker 1:Pursue personal growth to enhance your ability to serve. This involves continuous learning and self-improvement to increase your capacity to help others. Think of it like continuing education. There are lots of fields. My wife's in dental hygiene and she has to do CE credits every year to continue to stay on top of where she's at.
Speaker 1:Pursue that personal growth to enhance your ability to serve. Number three know and relate to what others value. Learn and then lead. Don't make the mistake of trying to lead without knowing those you lead. Understanding what others value is crucial for effective leadership. Number four do things that God values Actively.
Speaker 1:Serve others as a calling, not just something you have to do. Let it be a part of your life. Leadership is not just a role but a responsibility to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Maxwell also emphasizes that inexperienced leaders are quick to lead before knowing anything about the people they intend to lead. Mature leaders listen, learn and then lead. They understand that leadership is about serving and uplifting others, not about wielding power.
Speaker 1:Mark 10 45 says For even the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. This verse highlights the ultimate example of servant leadership found in Jesus Christ. Consider the story of Jesus washing the disciples' feet found in John, chapter 13. This act was a powerful lesson in adding value by serving others. It teaches us that no task is too menial if it helps and serves others. John Maxwell said the true measure of leadership is influence nothing more, nothing less. This quote reminds us that our influence is often most significant when we serve and add value to others. Another powerful quote is from Albert Schweitzer the purpose of human life is to serve and to show compassion and the will to help others. Serving others is at the heart of true leadership and is what ultimately makes a lasting impact.
Speaker 1:Imagine for a moment a manager who focuses solely on meeting targets and deadlines, ignoring the well-being and development of their team. Over time, the team becomes disengaged and unproductive. Now picture a different manager who invests in their team's growth, listens to their concerns and supports their professional development. This manager's team is likely to be more motivated, productive and loyal. This illustrates how adding value by serving others can transform a team's performance and morale. Consider Gandhi, whose leadership was marked by selfless service. Gandhi's commitment to serving others and adding value to their lives through his actions inspired millions and brought about significant social change. His life and work demonstrate that true leadership is about serving and empowering others. Maxwell shares a story about a leader who, instead of asserting authority, took time to understand the needs and aspirations of his team. By aligning his efforts with their goals, he was able to create a cohesive and motivated team that achieved outstanding results. This leader exemplified the law of addition by putting the needs of his team first and serving them to achieve common goals. Now, as always, I want to take a moment and talk about how you and I can apply the law of addition to our own leadership journey.
Speaker 1:Four quick things. Number one adopt a servant's attitude. Ask yourself if you have a servant's attitude towards others. If you feel impatient or frustrated or annoyed, you may need to work on developing a servant attitude. Serve others in small ways, without looking for compliments or credit. No task is below you. True service comes from a place of humility and genuine care for others.
Speaker 1:Number two understand what others value. Create a list of the key people in your life. Record what you believe each person values most. Rate yourself on your ability to identify what they value. If you score lower than eight, invest more time in understanding and supporting them. Knowing what others value helps you serve them better and strengthens your relationship.
Speaker 1:Number three intentionally add value. Make adding value to others a habit. Start with those that are closest to you and continue with those you lead. Those could be through mentoring, providing resources or simply offering support and encouragement. Look for opportunities to help others grow and succeed. Honestly, this is something you can start with at home, right, whether it's with your spouse, whether it's with your kids. Looking for moments to support and encourage, especially if that doesn't come naturally to you or your relationship with your spouse is so transactional that you've missed those moments of support. Make this a daily habit.
Speaker 1:Number four pursue personal growth. Now, I've talked about this on almost every day of this leadership journey, but it fits in every one of these. You and I are to continuously work on making yourself more valuable to others by pursuing personal and professional growth. This enables you to serve others more effectively. Read books, attend seminars, seek feedback to improve your skills and knowledge, surround yourself by people that are growing and be like them. Remember leaders add value by serving others. By focusing on the needs and growth of those you lead, you enhance your own leadership effectiveness and create a positive impact on your organization. Now, today, we explored the law of addition and how adding value by serving others is crucial for effective leadership. Understanding and applying this law can transform the way you lead and impact those around you. Join us on Monday as we dive into the sixth law, the law of solid ground. You won't wanna miss this. Thanks for listening today. If you enjoyed today's episode, please subscribe, leave a review, share it with a friend. Until next time, keep growing and leading with purpose.