The Leader as Servant

Over thirty years ago, Robert Greenleaf wrote an essay entitled "The Leader As Servant" that has had a profound influence throughout the world. Two weeks ago, "the leader as servant" was one of our themes at the ROM 10th Year Celebration in Fuzine, Croatia. From July 13-27, I joined seventy young leaders and speakers/mentors from 16 countries who came together to celebrate the past ten years of the ROM Leadership Development & Peace Gathering and to explore how to contribute to building a more caring society when they return home. Tonight I want to tell you the story of just one of the young leaders that participated.

Since he came to ROM for the first time in the summer of 2005, Gerti Bogdani has been selected to be the official spokesperson for the political party in power in Albania and has been elected as mayor of his borough in Tirana, the capital city of Albania. Last year Gerti obtained donations from several companies and grocers in Tirana with which his office put together over 300 food baskets to distribute to the poorest of the poor in his borough. Unlike prior administrations, they distributed the baskets without regard to the political affiliation of the recipients. Also, unlike his predecessors, Gerti would not permit his staff to contact the local media to cover this service event. I asked him why he would not want some positive publicity. His response was “Jesus said that when you give your alms you should not let your right hand know what your left hand is doing.” He went on to explain that it would not be a gift if publicized through the media. It would just be more political manipulation. I realized then that I have a lot to learn from this young leader in his late 20s. As we enter the quadrennial "mean season," let's hope and pray that we have young leaders on the ballot like Gerti that we will be able to recognize and vote into office as we seek to build a more caring society right here at home.