FRANCISCAN SERVANT LEADERSHIP AND THE APPEAL PROCESS

Dr. Karen Spear, Ph.D. Director, Center for Organizational EthicsMarian University

Marcy RipbergerPresident, Character Council of Indiana

IntroductionCare of Human Creation: The Business Organization

– Servant leadership as way to “care” for business enterprise– What can we learn from St. Francis?

How we’ll proceed– Dr. Karen Spear:

• Definition of servant leadership; description of 4 practices of Franciscan leadership promoting 4 Franciscan values

– Marcy: • Character qualities of servant leadership• The Appeal Process

Practices of Franciscan Servant Leadership

Dr. Karen Spear, Ph.D.

Marian University

Servant LeadershipDefinition

• Emerges out of who we are• Focuses on needs of others/organization• Stewardship

• How can Servant Leadership be Franciscan?

• Thesis : That a Franciscan understanding of servant leadership provides a roadmap for responsible stewardship and care for American business institutions

Four practices of Franciscan Servant Leadership– Prayer– Dialogue– Discernment of Gifts– Shared Leadership

Link these to four Franciscan values of

Marian University– Dignity of the individual; peace and justice;

reconciliation; responsible stewardship

PRAYERDivine mandate: Called by God to serve

• Mt. 20:26-28

“Anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve. . . .”

• To effectively engage in other 3 tasks, we must empty ourselves of our natural focus upon ourselves

• To empty ourselves, prayer is essential• “deep, regular, meaningful prayer” (National Formation, p. 9)

Prayer: foundation of Marian University’s four Franciscan values

DIALOGUEUnderstanding needs of others

• Entering into authentic relationship

Listening• Silencing our own agenda• Need to be vulnerable• Working through conflict

Francis: Dialoguing through conflict is doorway into “perfect joy.”

Dialogue: Link to Franciscan ValuesDignity of the Individual

• Respect for others through intentional listening and concern for needs of others

Peace & Justice/Reconciliation• Working through conflict

Responsible Stewardship • We are responsible for the well-being of other

people, especially those in most need

DISCERNMENT OF GIFTS

• Prayerful Discernment

• Do This as a Community

• External Perspective

• Openness to Gifts and Talents

Discernment of Gifts – Link to Franciscan Values

Dignity of the individual• Assisting others in enhancing self-knowledge &

sense of worth• Empowerment

Peace & Justice• Use of gifts and talents to meet needs • Building of a community working together for good of

all

Responsible Stewardship• Responsible use of God-given talents for care of

individuals and community

SHARED LEADERSHIP

• Recognition that all are called to servant leadership• Everyone in the community needs to step up and take responsibility

• Corollary: “Leader” may need to step down• Contribute to good of all• Share burden of leadership

• Mitigate against burnout of single leader• Check on tendency to dominate through

power & control

Summary4 Practices of Franciscan Servant Leadership

• Prayer• Essential for self-emptying

• Dialogue• Authentic relationship to discern needs of other

• Discernment of Gifts• What “tools” do those in the community bring to the

task at hand?• Shared Leadership

• Mitigate against burnout• Check against hoarding of power and control

Resources Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, “What is

Servant Leadership?” http://www.greenleaf.org/index.html, accessed July 20, 2010.

National Formation Commission of the National Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order, USA . Handbook for Secular Franciscan Servant Leaders. Lindsborg, KS: Barbo-Carlson Enterprises, 2005.

Kent Keith, The Case for Servant Leadership, Westfield, IN: Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, 1968.

Character Traits of Franciscan Servant Leaders

Marcy Ripberger, Character Council of Indiana

Prayer

Faith - Confidence that actions rooted in good character will yield the best outcome, even when I cannot see how

Forgiveness - Clearing the record of those who have wronged me and not holding a grudge

Gratefulness - Letting others know by my words and actions how they have benefited my life

Honor - Respecting others because of the higher authorities they represent

DialogueAttentiveness – Showing the worth of a person or task by

giving my undivided concentration

Sensitivity - Perceiving the true attitudes and emotions of those around me

Truthfulness - Earning future trust by accurately reporting past facts

Deference - Limiting my freedom so I do not offend the tastes of those around me

Discernment of GiftsDiscernment - Understanding the deeper reasons why things happen

Discretion - Recognizing and avoiding words, actions, and attitudes that could bring undesirable consequences

Tolerance - Realizing that everyone is at varying levels of character development

Shared Leadership

Availability - Making my own schedule and priorities secondary to the wishes of those I serve

Humility - Acknowledging that achievement results from the investment of others in my life

Meekness - Yielding my personal rights and expectations with a desire to serve

Wisdom - Seeing and responding to life situations from a perspective that transcends my current circumstances

Summary

Servant Leadership, with good character driving Franciscan values and practices, ensures successful use of effective tools in the business community.

This will change the way we ALL do business!