We have a special friend, Dr. Theodore Ryan, who teaches Business Ethics and Leadership (while not titled "Servant Leadership,” that is the kind of leadership Ted tries to exemplify and teach.) in the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. Ted participated in our first Virtual Servant Leadership Learning Community in 2008. Since then we keep in close touch, sharing moments of joy as well as reflecting together unanswered challenges in our lives. Below is an excerpt from a recent email from Ted.
My class went very well. On the last day, I surprised the troops with champagne and holiday goodies, we gathered in a circle, and I toasted us to a successful, joyful and ethical life. Then all still closely gathered, I shared from my heart my hopes, challenges and prayers for them. I told them how when I was in Capetown, SA, at Nobel Square, an African mother was trying to get her young teenage son to hold still for a picture by the statue of Nelson Mandela. I asked her whether I could take the picture, and she said, yes, but, my son isn't cooperating. So, I took the camera, and said, "Son, you are standing by Nelson Mandela. Stand there so that you are worthy of him and so that he would be proud of you." He immediately stood up tall, strong and proud [and his mom wiped a tear]. I told my students that I want them to be the kind of leaders that whenever their followers think of them, whenever their followers are asked about my students' leadership, their followers will want to stand tall, strong and proud. It was a special moment. I do get frustrated and sad, sometimes, because I know that it’s like dropping the kids off at Sunday school. Many of my students are strongly influenced by the “profits only for shareholders” view of business, and by the (erroneous) view that one cannot be one’s best, full ethical self and still excel in business. (The data shows that ethical leaders and businesses actually do better, over the long haul. Surprise!) But I need to remember that I know there are many students for whom the class, and the mentoring, are transformative, just as the experience continues to be for me.
I hope this inspires you as it does me to create more moments from which the spirit of servant leadership can grow in our lives and through our actions.
Ann McGee-Cooper
