One leadership conundrum many leaders in the 21^st century are still struggling with is how to serve, even while leading. Most times, leaders don’t realize that ideal leadership stems from bringing oneself into the place of serving. Jesus taught His disciples one of the greatest leadership lessons when He showed them how to serve to lead. He said: but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. ²⁷ And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave (Matthew 20:26-27). Many leadership research studies have proven that servant leadership stands out as a comprehensive approach to leadership, giving attention to not only the physical aspect of leadership but spiritual dimensions as well.

 

Now, the core values of twenty-first-century servant leaders are all-encompassing. First, you would agree with me that the 21^st century is facing many challenges, especially in the sphere of leadership. Despite the gathering of global leaders to proffer solutions to these numerous challenges facing our world, it appears the challenges aren’t surmountable. But the truth of the matter is that these problems or challenges are surmountable if leaders would simply embrace being servants, rather than being leaders who aren’t servants at heart. Take a look at the war between Israel and Palestine, the war between Ukraine and Russia, and the promised annihilation of Israel by Iran, it all boils down to one thing; these leaders see themselves as bossy, and dictatorial in their approach to leadership.

 

Whether we like it or not, most problems of the 21^st century will remain largely unresolved if global leaders don’t embrace the principles and core values of servant leadership. Being a servant leader doesn’t make one weak or inferior; it is the most reliable way of leading and leading effectively. Now, let us go back to the main discourse: The Core Values of the Twenty-first Century Servant Leaders. I have come to realize that the challenges of the 21^st century would be resolved if leaders would embrace servant leadership and display empathy, listen actively and listen more, foster an environment that heals rather than destroy, demonstrate heightened awareness, are persuasive in their communication, think through their actions or inactions by conceptualizing it, good foresight, good stewardship, and foster an all-inclusive community devoid of discrimination and segregation.

 

Jesus, the greatest leader who ever walked the face of the earth, modeled these core values to us with His life and leadership assignment. Jesus was a highly empathetic leader. He demonstrated empathy and compassion for the suffering and marginalized. In Matthew 14:14, the Bible shows the empathy side of Jesus. It says: “And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.” Jesus understood perfectly well, human frailty and extended grace and forgiveness to those in need. There has never been any leader after Jesus that understood human frailty like Him. Hebrews 4:15 showed us: “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

 

Again, the Bible showed us that Jesus was an active listener! Jesus listened to people’s problems, and He listened and listened over and over again. The story of the Gentile woman who came to Jesus in Matthew 15 is a good example of this. Jesus listened to this woman to the point that the disciples felt the woman was disturbing Jesus with her stories. At the end of the day, the woman got what she wanted, despite being a Gentile woman. Also, a servant leader fosters an environment that heals rather than destroys. If you look at the level of devastation in our world today occasioned by war, all that it points to are leaders who aren’t interested in building a cohesive world and society where everyone can thrive.

 

In Jesus’ days, Jesus could have instigated His disciples to start a war with the high priest’s servants who came to arrest Him, but He didn’t. He even rebuked Peter sharply for bringing out His sword and cutting off one of the soldier’s ears for attempting to arrest Him. Jesus said to Peter afterward: “Put away your sword” Jesus told him. ‘Those who use the sword will die by the sword’”. It would take servant leadership to rebuild this devastating world, ravaged by climate change, wars, political instabilities, and what have you. Again, heightened awareness is a great trait of servant leaders. In John 2:24, the Bible says Jesus did not commit Himself to people because He knew all men. In other words, Jesus had a supernatural wisdom for knowing people's hearts and minds.

 

Heightened awareness for servant leaders allows them to better understand the needs and concerns of those following them and respond more effectively to their needs. The other core values of servant leaders (persuasive communication, thinking through actions or inactions, good foresight, good stewardship, and fostering an all-inclusive community) could all be summarised into one word; intentionality! Servant leaders are highly intentional folks. Intentionality is an integral part of servant leadership. I haven’t come across a servant leader who isn’t intentional (about their leadership, relationships, visions, goals, aspirations, and values). So, if the world would experience a better twenty-first century, servant leaders would need to arise and step into their leadership assignment. Enough of hiding, enough of feeling helpless! The world needs servant leaders, and the world needs them right now!

Thanks for the gift of your time, I am Obayomi Abiola Benjamin!

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