Devoted to Managers and those that seek to improve their management skills

"...if you're a servant, by definition you're not controlling."

Finishing up the tremendous story of Herb Kelleher and his non-stop attack upon control as it relates to management, we look at one last thing he says in this specific area: "I have always believed that the best leader is the best server. And if you're a servant, by definition you're not controlling."

Leaders like Kelleher always keep it pretty simple. There's really not much you can say to what he says. Either you're a servant leader or you're not. You're either a controller or you're not.

The thing about serving and leadership is that you're primarily an empowerer and an obstacle mover. Neither of those lend themselves to trying to control a people. The whole idea is to plant the vision and greatness of your task within them and then train them. Then when they get going, get anything out of the way that hinders them from doing their task at hand.

When those that attempt to control what's going on, they're trying to get a handle on something that's living and organic. There's no way that anybody can grasp the multitude of intricacies that happen even from hour to hour in a business or group of people. Why should we think we can?

Some people may think that this is putting yourself into a position of helplessness, but it's not even close to being the case. Rather, you're releasing a people to do something far beyond any one person could hope to do. You're setting the business, your people and yourself up for success.

There's nothing like workforce solving problems, taking initiatives and coming up with new ideas with very little input from the servant/manager. They have taken ownership of the company and don't want to give it back. Don't be tempted to even want to. Just keep on serving and looking for ways to make it easier to do for them. Do it and they'll perform far beyond what you could imagine.

Other Herb Kelleher Sources:

Special Event

Leadership: The Essential Herb Kelleher

The CEO as Brand Guardian

Herb's way

Speeches and Presentations from Southwest Leaders

Southwest Airlines: The Hottest Thing in the Sky

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