In the grand scheme of my life seemingly moments ago, I left my decade-long career in education to embark on the kooky ship of remanufactured transmissions with a spot on a marketing team. Few were surprised by the career change, but none were more buffaloed than I at the industry I found myself in.
Transmissions? They, like, shift, right? Cars, though both pleasant and convenient to have, mystify me. Mechanics and engineering are those branches of human ingenuity I have no hand in or comprehension of or knack for, but boy am I grateful they exist. Respect.
And while I could probably write an amusingly sad tale of a gal lost in the maze of production in “Transmission World,” that’s not this story. No, this is the story of how a teacher, a teacher leader, a teacher coach–a servant leader–a servant of her students, her community, and her fellow teachers left that expertise, the comfort zone, and leadership behind to… lead.
Wait, what? Bear with me.
Years before I learned about the term servant leadership coined by Robert K. Greenleaf, I was leading by serving without realizing it. Any and all participants in society as we know it have seen endless examples of traditional leaders: they point the way, they push from the back, they say and we do. Many of us, when a leader is needed, have stood up and taken the helm. Many of us, when a leader is needed, have sat quietly waiting for someone more proactive. I have done both.
A servant leader is the forward-facing boss sometimes when they need to be, when they are serving the needs of the group, those of us who decided not to take the helm, but also considers the growth and well-being of their communities. In this role, the servant-leader shares power by putting the needs of others first so that they may develop and perform to their potential.
As a teacher, I made sure to use my students’ interests and data to determine what they needed to learn as opposed to what I wanted to teach. As a coach, I made sure my teachers felt heard and respected, as that served the much-neglected area of teacher-wellness.
Enter Director of First Impressions position at a transmission remanufacturing company. I left my expertise behind me. Inside that hat, I kept my leadership confidence. As I’ve begun to adapt to an ever-changing day on an ever-changing team in an ever-changing field, I thought, Well, I’m not a leader anymore – better look to those who know what they’re doing!
Oh, for shame! In my new context, I’d forgotten myself.
As often the first person my colleagues see every day and the first person customers and vendors see for sure, I’ve found a way to serve them by being kind and personal, and perhaps most importantly, myself–authentic interactions being central to our company’s voice. This gives each individual a voice, a touchstone, someone who is in tune and interested in them.
In sending out mailings and updating customer information, I serve the sales team by telling them what I need, why, and how this serves not me, but them and their customers. Everybody wins!
And perhaps most importantly, and the area that anyone can do or do better, I am lucky enough to serve–from the of the tippy top to the new guy in maintenance–by constantly seeking to improve the culture in the place we all work every day. Birthdays, meaningful conversation, food, smiles, jokes, pop-a-shot, work anniversaries, food, sarcasm, sports banter–did I mention food?
The difference between traditional leadership and servant leadership is the care taken to make sure the highest needs are being served. I test myself each day: do those I’m interacting with grow as people? Do they become healthier, more autonomous, freer, or wiser? Do they in turn become servants? And, near and dear to my heart due to the diversity of those I serve, do the least privileged in my community feel served?
So, I’m not a fancy teacher leader anymore. Well, good, because I wasn’t happy. But by no means does that mean I can’t be a leader. I’ll serve in the ways I can–be it with a fresh coffee, a balloon, or major project–and a big part of that is by in fact growing myself.
Servant leadership isn’t about being a leader. We’re not all meant or interested in steering the ship and pointing the way; it’s about serving people and accidentally, almost as if by some magical mystical means, becoming a leader in the process.
For more information on servant leadership, check out the works of the insightful Robert K. Greenleaf.
photo credit: © kmlmtz66 – stock.adobe.com

 The Rhythm of Reman might be the newest gal on the block, but don’t let that fool you – she has more than a few fresh insights up her sleeve. Like what Andee has to say? Comment below or connect with her directly.