How (Not) to be King of the Hill: Thoughts on Servant Leadership

Think back: can you remember the first time you were introduced to an executive in a company that you’ve worked for? I remember this experience at one of the hospitals where I worked and the prep for the meeting ended up being more awkward than the meeting itself. My boss gave me an impossibly long list of pointers and tips about what to say and not say …  it was exhausting!

It was very obvious that this executive had been placed on a pedestal, and as a result, I couldn't help but see him as separate and distant from the rest of the team. It turns out I wasn’t the only one.

For many of us, this is the image we’ve grown accustomed to when we think of leadership. We spend a great portion of our lives trying to get up on that pedestal ourselves, not so that we can make a genuine difference, but rather just so that we can say “Look at me! Yo Tucker, I did it!”

We are programmed at a very early age to strive for this kind of “leadership.” Do you remember the game King of the Hill? Do you remember the object of the game? It was to fight your way to the top! And you had to knock someone else down in order to hold this coveted position. Right from the start we are provided with a concept of leadership that breeds the positional and separatist mindset: that only one person can be on top, there isn’t enough room for two.

It’s easy to see how over time we adopt and believe the idea that leadership is all about position, status, and rank. But, leadership is actually all about influence!

Let’s take a second to answer a simple but revealing question. Who are you more likely to want to follow: a person who you know, trust, and have a relationship with, or someone who lacks those things but happens to be above you on the proverbial food chain? A great leader doesn’t just want you to do what they say out of obligation and duty, they want your loyalty and respect. And how does a good leader gain these things from their followers? Glad you asked.

At Pulsara, we are all about Servant Leadership and this is modeled throughout the organization. We have executives who aren’t afraid to get close to the people they lead. This creates a passionate and loyal group of people who are dedicated to going to battle with those who are leading the way. At Pulsara there is no “King of the Hill” and there’s plenty of room at the top. Let's just change the rules of that silly game.

The true kings and queens of the hill are the people who help to get the most other people to the top with them. That is what servant leadership is all about!