The Servant Leader - #LeadershipHack - S1E1
Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.
Hello Hackers! Today, while reading Software Engineering at Google, I found a section that instantly reminded me of my organizational journey during college. Specifically, the section in “Chapter 5 - How to Lead Team > Moving from Individual Contributor Role to a Leadership Role > Servant Leadership” resonated with me. It took me back to my political journey to become the President of the Student Executive Board at my university, which began from very humble beginnings as a servant to others.
My Leadership Journey
In 2014, I was a new Information Technology student at a university in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. As an introvert, I loved spending time alone with my computer, playing games, and dabbling in hacking projects. I didn't have many friends at the time, so it was convenient to spend all my time in my boarding house with my computer.
One day, a senior was looking for volunteers to join the committee for our faculty's annual Christmas party. My close friends were part of the committee and invited me to join. Despite my introverted nature, I decided to take the risk of collaborating with new people for fun and as an experiment.
Joining the Committee
As a committee member in the Equipment Division, my tasks involved hard and dirty work, such as building a large cross for decoration, setting up lighting, organizing chairs, and assisting the Consumption Division with food arrangements. The work was tiring and exhausting, but seeing the event succeed and people happy made it all worthwhile.
Discovering the Joy of Serving
After that experience, I joined more organizations and committees, helped music students as a violinist, served as a musician in the university’s chapel, and participated in many more events. Helping others gave me a sense of purpose, and I enjoyed making new friends and adding color and fun to my college life. This habit of serving others allowed me to connect with people from all faculties and build closer relationships with lecturers and university staff.
Trusts
After two years of active involvement in various organizations, the election for the President of the Student Executive Board approached. To my surprise, many people recommended that I run for president. Initially, I rejected the idea, citing my introverted nature and lack of leadership experience. However, more and more friends encouraged me to take the risk and see if the majority of students agreed with their recommendation.
One night, a few days before the registration deadline, I talked to my best friend. He convinced me that rejecting this opportunity would waste the trust my friends had placed in me. His words opened my mind, and I decided to sign up, find a vice-presidential candidate, and prepare for the election debates.
The Election
During the debates, I faced two other groups of candidates. Surprisingly, the debates went well, and I began to realize that my chances of becoming president were becoming more real. Nervous, I invited my vice-presidential candidate to spend election day outside the university, getting coffee and talking to distract ourselves.
In the evening, the votes were counted, and a friend informed me that I had received the majority of votes (~80%). Shocked and unsure of what to do, I prepared myself to accept the reality that I was now the president of the Student Executive Board.
Embracing Servant Leadership
As president, I felt nervous and confused, unsure how to lead or influence people. At that time, I was very religious and remembered that Jesus was a great example of a servant leader. His teachings inspired me to lead by serving others.
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” — Mark 10:42-45
With this mindset, I began thinking about improving the organization, making executions more efficient, enhancing the quality of my board members, and improving the students' overall experience. I fought for student rights, organized creative events, and collaborated with other faculty presidents to create positive impacts across the university.
Learning from Professional Examples
In my professional life, I was fortunate to meet managers who exemplified servant leadership, just as I had done as a student president. One of my managers,
, dedicated his time to ensuring the happiness and improvement of his team. Another manager, , who was a VP at my company, once asked me during a 1:1 session, “What do you want to be?” For him, managing people meant shaping them into what they aspired to become.On the flip side, I also heard stories from friends who had bad managers, making their work experience feel like hell. These managers focused on pushing, punishing, micromanaging, and yelling, without considering the happiness of their team.
Insights from Software Engineering at Google
In Software Engineering at Google, Brian Fitzpatrick said:
The cure for the “management” disease is a liberal application of “servant leadership,” which is a nice way of saying the most important thing you can do as a leader is to serve your team, much like a butler or majordomo tends to the health and well-being of a household. — Brian Fitzpatrick
This inspiring quote resonates with me as I embark on my leadership and managerial journey in my career. It gives me the courage and positive energy to stick to my belief that leadership is about serving those we lead.
Conclusion
My journey from an introverted student to the President of the Student Executive Board taught me the value of servant leadership. By focusing on serving others, I was able to lead effectively and make a positive impact on my university community. This experience has shaped my approach to leadership in my professional career, reinforcing the importance of prioritizing the well-being and development of those we lead.
Thank you for joining me on this journey down memory lane, Hackers! If you enjoyed this story or found it inspiring, please like, comment, and subscribe to my blog. Your support means a lot, and I look forward to sharing more insights and experiences with you. Keep hacking and stay curious!