Leadership or servant leadership?

Robert K Greenleaf first coined the term “servant leadership.” The Greenleaf Center defines the term as “The servant-leader is servant first… it begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first; perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions…The leader-first and the servant-first are two extreme types. Between them there are shadings and blends that are part of the infinite variety of human nature.”

In a recent newspaper article Mayor Smith was criticized for lack of leadership. I have to agree with the article since I don’t consider him just a leader, I consider him a good servant leader. I have had the pleasure to serve the city of Maricopa next to Mr. Smith on a much smaller scale. I have picked garbage on SR 347; I have washed cars, cleaned empty lots, picked garbage up at Pacana Park. He has been there at all of these occasions. Many people don’t know but Smith dedicates over 40 hours a week of his time to serve this city. The article states that the Mayor “refuses” to work with city council. Politics aside, because even though we are not supposed to have political distinctions at the city level, coincidently, all of the complaints are coming from council members of a different political affiliation than the Mayor. The term “refusing” to me would mean that, after countless requests for something specific, he “refuses” to listen or act.

I have worked for very large hotel, bank and brokerage corporations, all winners of prestigious customer service awards, and I have always known of lawsuits against every one of them.  Terms like “may imply” and “indicates the possibility that at least some of her allegations may have some truth to them” are vague at best, but are perceived as news and not mere speculation.

Criminal charges aside, that still have to be proven, it is impossible to deny that Marty McDonald did a wonderful job in the public’s eye while he was the PRL Director. He along with his staff  gave birth to wonderful events like the Salsa Festival and Founders Day. I think it was proper for Smith to praise McDonald for his job up to that point; we all did!

In 2001 I worked for a very large luxury hotel, part of a major chain, in the New York metro area. The hotel ended the year about 30 percent short of goal. Did they count their chickens before they hatched? No. What some may call counting chickens before they hatch, corporate America and government calls a budget. 9-11 came and every hotel in America, especially in the New York area, suffered a tremendous financial setback.

It is no news that our city has suffered tremendously due to the economic downturn. We always want to scapegoat someone and blame them for our situation. In a macro sense many blame the President; after all, he has the power to influence financial legislation. Bringing hospitals and growing the size of the library are certainly worthy projects, but, in case you have not felt it, it is time to tighten your belt. If our current economic situation cannot be called a rainy day, then what is a rainy day?

Taking trips to Washington is part of the function of the mayor, and I would definitely hope that  he continues to network on behalf of the city. We need as much exposure as we can get since we are one of the newest cities in the country. I would not expect the mayor to pay out of pocket for his trip while he is representing us. He is already serving as if he were full-time, paid mayor, and it certainly would not be fair to have him pay for his expenses. Anyway, since his expenses are public record, I have no doubt that if anyone had found something improper his political rivals would have made sure we all knew about it.

I am not trying to say that things are perfect in Maricopa. The economy is certainly a major factor. But I am certain that if more of our elected leaders worked as servant leaders, without hidden agendas and for the benefit of the citizens of Maricopa, things would be better. Mayor Smith has made errors, and I think he would be the first one to admit it; after all, I have never heard him claim perfection. Just one thing to all of those who criticize: if you find a city where things run perfectly, please stay out of it. If you go to it, it would not be perfect anymore.

Want to be a leader? Remember, first, leadership is built by serving. Second, leaders truly serve when they subordinate their private needs and welfare to that of others. Do both and the real deal leader gets something the faker never will achieve: moral authority.

Jake Romero 

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