“On ne gouverne les hommes que is les servent; la regle est sans exception”  Our quote was originally written in French by philosopher Victor Cousins

Victor CousinsVictor Cousins  Cousin lived from  He was a French philosopher, historian and educational reformer  Cousins had a huge impact on people, government and education.

Where it originatedWhere it originated  Was originated in 1851  Originated in a philosophical book that uses the ideas of revolutionists and philosophers  The book was originally written in French

Background InformationBackground Information  The quote is classified as a government quote.  It is based on the idea of servant leadership.  Cousins had the idea that one cannot be a true leader without the servant of others.  Victor Kiam spoke in similar context by claiming the quote “You can only govern men by serving them. The rule is without exception.”

Group Interpretation of Quote  “Men are governed only by serving them, the rule is without exception.” –V. Cousin  This quote is all about being a servant leader, which Is a model used today for managers and leaders.  It is important for our leader to know how to listen and empower employees, not dominate them.  This quote focuses on the importance of inspiring the people around you, to help them identify their higher purpose.  Serving your team is the key to building a group of people around the purpose of your organization, and working together to reach that goal.

Group InterpretationGroup Interpretation  To be an effective leader, it is imperative to not only look out for your own needs, but even more so the needs of others.  You will not be an effective leader if you disregard the needs and opinions of others.  You must listen to what everyone has to say.  Also important to consider yourself a true member of the group.

Group InterpretationGroup Interpretation  Serve the group that you lead.  Serve the team first.  Serve your team with strength.  By working with everyone in your team, you will be able to accomplish more than you ever could yourself.  Empower your team.  Going above and beyond for your team.  The needs of the team outweighs the needs of the individual.

Group InterpretationGroup Interpretation  In today’s world it is all about climbing the corporate ladder, no matter who you step on to get there. This quote is the opposite of that. It explains that to be a true leader you must be a resource for your team so that they can reach their goals and achieve success, which in turn does the same for the team leader.  If you serve your team, you build trust, communication, and confidence that allows your team to make good decisions, even when their leader is not there.  It is about teaching our team, so that they can become more, which will profit the leader.

Group InterpretationGroup Interpretation  Serve your team by training them, providing them with benefits, and motivating them to want to grow themselves, so in turn they will help grow your business.  By serving and encouraging your team, your team will inspire and serve your customers.  In serving your team members, you serve yourself, your team, your business, and your customers.

Servant LeadershipServant Leadership  Robert K. Greenleaf first coined the term servant leadership in his essay, The Servant as a Leader.  He states that to be a servant leader; one must be a servant and provide contribution to the well-being of his people and community.

Servant LeadershipServant Leadership  Servant Leadership can be closely related to participative management rather than authoritative.  Reason being that authoritative doesn’t really correspond with servant leadership.  A servant leader is to encourage and support to unlock subordinates full potential and capability.

10 Characteristics of a Servant Leader10 Characteristics of a Servant Leader  Larry C. Spears’s 10 Characteristics of a Servant Leader.  Listening  Empathy  Healing  Awareness  Persuasion

10 Characteristics Cont.10 Characteristics Cont.  Conceptualization  Foresight  Stewardship  Commitment to the growth of others  and building community

Examples of Quote in Business  Servant-Leadership is an asset for any business  Half of Forbes Top Companies to Work for List are servant-leadership companies (2012)  Servant-Leadership leads to happy employees and happy customers

Business ExamplesBusiness Examples  SAS Institute  Servant-Leadership  Repeatedly atop Forbes Best Companies to Work For List (incl. 2012)  Top-notch employee benefits  Familiarity among top executives

Business ExamplesBusiness Examples  Recreational Equipment Incorporated (REI)  Servant-Leadership  Committed to environmental health  Nation’s largest consumer co-op  Actively promoting conservation  3.5 Million active members

Business ExamplesBusiness Examples  Southwest Airlines  Servant-Leadership  Start as small Texas-based airline  Now fly over 100 million passengers  Dedicated to the customer experience

Business ExamplesBusiness Examples  TDIndustries  Servant-Leadership, for decades  Repeatedly on Forbes Top Companies to Work For list  Basic servant-leadership training  Uses Robert Greenleaf’s “The Servant as Leader” as model

Interest at heartInterest at heart  In order for people to be led they must believe that their leader has their best interest at heart.

Personal Historical Examples  This principle of serving others in order to lead has been common in the past.  Martin Luther King Jr gathered 250,000 people to a march in Washington DC on August 28, (Virtually no social media, very few forms of communication) Prime example that people will follow those who they believe have their best interest at heart.

Student exampleStudent example  Obama administration were able to acquire younger vote because of promises of increasing federal grants for higher education and lowering interest rates on student loans.

Personal examplePersonal example  As kid I always had disdain for authority, the only person I would listen to was my father. I realized in time that I obeyed him not out of fear but because I knew he had my best interest in mind.