Yes I know we just talked about LEADERSHIP 101 recently but remember leadership is a topic, interest, priority and area of consultant service for me everyday…EVERYDAY.  And yes it is true again that in most TRIPLE III TIME messages we have discussed the many, many views and traits that have been studied about what makes a leader special.

In Charles Garfield’s book: “Second to None…The Productive Power of Putting People First”, he describes what it means to be a service leader.

“Service leadership means more than just meeting the current needs to your client competently and efficiently. It also means stepping beyond the traditional client/provider boundaries to inspire change and fulfill the promise and the potential for the client.

Service leadership also means more than knowing your client.  It requires the mastery of topics, issues, and insights related to your client’s experiences, goals, thinking, motivations, and needs.  A service leader creates a vivid picture of what will make the client prosper not only today but tomorrow. With that picture firmly in mind, the service leader then commits himself or herself to making it happen.”

This definition simply says…a leader puts people first.  Whether it is their client/customers (or staff), a service leader is responsible for making them the BEST!

It is very important to re-read Mr. Garfield’s quote a few times.  There are so many valuable professional development thoughts and actions contained in those two paragraphs.  And maybe you will arrive at the same conclusion that I did: That if you want to be recognized as a great leader…you must guide and serve those that work with you…those that you work for…and those you work to help.