Servant-leaders in the workplace know that time is a precious resource.
“Of the other major resources,” writes the great management thinker, Peter Drucker, “money is actually quite plentiful.”
“People,” Drucker continues, “one can hire, though one can rarely hire enough good people.”
“But one cannot rent, hire, buy, or otherwise obtain more time.”
That’s what Drucker concluded in his classic book, The Effective Executive, originally published in 1967.*
And it seems that the demands on our time have steadily increased over last 50 years.
Which means that now, more than ever, servant-leaders, need to know their priorities and steward their time well.**
But I believe this truth is timeless:
Servant-leaders give the gift of time.
I bet you’ve noticed – and appreciated – this:
- The servant-leader who is never too busy to field a question from a team member, no matter that team member’s place in the hierarchy.
- The servant-leader who completely stops what he or she is doing when you need to talk about something important.
- The servant-leader who makes time to say a few friendly words, build relationships and get to know people apart from what they do at work.
One of the best compliments I hear about servant-leaders: “She [or he] always has time for me.”
Generosity is one of the three cardinal virtues of a servant-leader.**
And time is a precious resource in the workplace.
So, to aspiring servant-leaders at work I say, give the gift of time.
Yes, be smart about how you give your time – but don’t be stingy about it. Try your best to be generous!
I know you’re busy. But I firmly believe that, more often than not, the benefits of giving time to others far outweigh the costs.
What do you think? Am I being naive here when I say that leaders should be generous with their time? What’s your take on the issue?
Let us know.
As always, we appreciate your views. Thanks!
And be sure to download our latest ebook, Servant Leadership in the Workplace: A Brief Introduction. It’s free!
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* Enjoy more wisdom from Peter Drucker: “10 Great Quotes from Greenleaf’s Friend, Drucker.”
** See what you think of this post: “Servant Leadership – three Workplace Priorities.”
*** On generosity and the other servant leadership cardinal virtues: “Three Cardinal Virtues of a Servant-Leader.”