Dear
Friends,
"The
first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank
you. In between, the leader is a servant." These wise words came from
Max DePree, the former chairman and CEO of Herman Miller, Inc, the furniture
maker that was once named one of Fortune magazine's 10 best managed and most
innovative companies.
Today
I still member De Pree's book The Art of Leadership which I read over two
decades ago while on a cruise with my wife and family. Few books on leadership
have impacted me more than this one. The fact that I still remember
the time I read it after so many years is a testimony to the impact it had
on me.
One
of the key aspects of De Pree's leadership involved a principle he learned from
his father. It was called 'the rule of abandoning oneself to the strengths of
others'. His father was always open to the ideas and suggestions of others. He
cultivated the kind of relationships with his employees that made them feel
that their input was not only welcome but encouraged. He knew that he could
learn from the experts, but he was far more interested in learning from the
rank and file. They were the ones who knew the company best, and who were in
the best position to recommend the kind of suggestions that would strengthen
the company. He introduced the Scanlon Plan, a plan by which workers made suggestions
to management for ways to improve such things as customer service, quality,
and productivity. In 1987-88 Herman Miller employees made suggestions
that led to cost savings of some $12 million dollars.
Regardless
of your position, I believe this principle of 'abandoning oneself to the
strengths of others' has significant implications for
those in any form of leadership. The best leaders, administrators, coaches,
teachers, pastors, and yes, even parents, are generally the ones that are open
to the possibility that they might learn something from the suggestions of
others. They are not so arrogant to think that they have all the answers and
can never learn from those with whom they work.
Some
of the most valuable lessons I have learned as a parent, coach,
teacher and pastor have come from those times when I was willing to 'abandon
myself to the strengths of others.' Such learning can provide a valuable
dimension to one's growth. If we think we know it all, and that those we work
with can't teach us anything, we are indeed foolish.
The
legendary basketball coach John Wooden was fond of saying, "It's what you
learn after you know it all that counts."
The
late R. C. Sproul, who was one of the great intellectual
theological scholars of his time, was giving a heavy lecture to a group of
his students. One of them raised his hand and asked a very complicated
question. Dr. Sproul smiled and said, "The answer to that is very simple,
I don't know."
Those
who are willing to confess that they don't know it all, are the ones who are
most teachable. God is not looking for those who profess to know it all. He is
looking for those who are willing to be quiet and ready to listen and learn
from others.
And
oh yes, don't forget, "The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling
fools fall flat on their faces." (Proverbs 10:6, The Living Bible).
Yours
in faith and friendship,
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