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I recently finished 22 years of service in the Marine Corps (‘Oorah!) and I never really expected to stay so long. When I first joined the United States Marine Corps after graduating from college, my primary reason was that I wanted to give thanks to my country for the opportunities she had provided me which resulted in earning my degree. I wasn’t unique in that regard – I just wanted to reciprocate the action and show my thankfulness through service.
I had received grants and student loans which (coupled with the pay from part time jobs) were instrumental in my ability to earn my college degree, so a few years of service seemed more than fair. I had always been told to say “Thank you” and this just seemed like the right way to do it. It has taken years for me to figure all of this out, but I hope that others can learn this a bit faster by understanding my story. I am just a case study in a psychological theory called Servant Leadership Theory.
The Road Map
The Theory of Servant Leadership assumes that the “servant-leader is servant first. It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead” (1). Followers of the Theory of Servant Leadership believe that, “those served grow as persons…become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants.” (4) Still confused about how this led me to the Marine Corps? So was I for a while.
I certainly could have repaid my country in many other ways (teacher, civil servant, honest taxpayer), so why the Marine Corps? I had considered serving in the U.S. Army and the U.S Coast Guard, too, but was sold on the Marine Corps the first time I met Captain Q, my Officer Selection Officer. He took a different tact than the other recruiters and I am grateful for it. He didn’t ask me to sign-up; he challenged me (some might even say that he dared me to do it).
From the start, he made it clear that if I didn’t “have heart” and approach the opportunity with a spirit of “selflessness,” I would never make it through the crucible of Officer Candidates School, whose motto is Ductos Exemplo (Lead by Example). The fact that he didn’t seem to think I had what it took to lead Marines inspired me to want to earn the title “Marine” even more. Without “heart” and “selflessness,” the Marine Corps would not entrust me with the honor of leading our Nation’s most sons and daughters. Fortunately for me, service was embedded in my heart by my parents.
Foundations of Service
I believe that my leadership philosophy has been influenced by a world view founded on the example set by my parents when I was a child. It was framed around the idea of being thankful for the opportunity to be of service to others. During my childhood, my parents volunteered their time and money, in the service of others, by helping to operate the church cafeteria on Sunday mornings and managing a snow cone-stand during the hot summer Southwest Texas months.
I vividly recall the sense of purpose my father and mother exuded on summer Saturdays while preparing the supplies and equipment required to maximize snow cone sales on Sunday. On Saturday afternoons and evenings, my parents would spend hours in the kitchen boiling and stirring the snow cone syrup concentrate required to make 10-12 gallons of snow cone flavors. The effort that they put into preparation would translate to maximizing their service to the community. They did not just want to serve – they wanted to do the best – and I was eager and grateful to be on the team.
Servant Leadership and Mature Goals
This was the environment which most strongly influenced the development of my leadership philosophy. In hindsight, I now know that it stems from the Theory of Servant Leadership, which requires the leader to want to serve others first (1). By their example, my parents influenced the development of mental models which propelled me forward in my motivational development. This goal-directed behavior is known as “conscious intent” and without getting too bookish, it which is characterized by the ability of a child to be “aware of their own goals, of their actions, and the implications that these have on self and others.” (2) I had the goal of being the best servant that I could. They didn’t make me help; rather, they made me want to help.
Without a doubt, I know that my development (cognitive, emotional and motivational), world view, mental models, and leadership philosophy were all heavily influenced by my childhood experiences. So, to me, it is no surprise that I pursued a calling (rather than an occupation) when I decided to serve others first as a United States Marine. Nor is it a surprise that to this very day, I continue to pursue opportunities to be of service to others wherever the opportunity arises. Other veterans do this, too, through Team Rubicon, The Mission Continues, and Team RWB and numerous other organizations.
To be clear, as a child, I had not yet developed the self-awareness to understand the concept of servant leadership and the requirement to consciously want to serve others first. When I was young, I just wanted to serve along side my parents, but as I grew-up, I sought to lead in service of others and I was thankful for the opportunity. Captain Q’s challenge was the spark that lit my passion for service in the Marine Corps. His words resonated with me at my core and still do 22 years later.
Wrapping It All Together
I believe that leadership abilities, development (cognitive, emotional and motivational) and world view are intertwined – a weakness in one impacts the others (e.g., system). The example of service I was exposed to as a child, most definitely influenced my eventually becoming a United States Marine and finding great joy in serving others first. The foundation of being of service to others would serve me well at Officer Candidates School; serving in various combat zones after 9/11; supporting disaster relief operations around the world; overcoming personal and professional adversity within the context of exhibiting moral and physical courage; and in my community today. For each of those 22 years, I was thankful for the opportunity and the people around me. I am thankful whenever someone pulls me into their world as a mentor, too. I have my own family of four now and not surprisingly, the small acts of service both my wife and I have exposed our children to, have inspired them to be of service to others. For this, too, I am thankful.
References
(1) Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved on October 5, 2013 from https://greenleaf.org/what-is-servant-leadership/
(2) Robinson, O. (2013). DEVELOPMENT THROUGH ADULTHOOD. An Integrative Sourcebook. Palgrave Macmillian. Great Britian
(3) Mehta & Pillay, Revisiting Servant Leadership: An Empirical Study in Indian Context, The Journal, Contemporary Management Research, 2011, Vol.5, No. 2, 24-41. Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.nu.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=2&hid=1&sid=413bd6f7-c290-4d73-aea6-a60771653cab%40sessionmgr111
(4) Mostovicz, I. E., Kakabadse, N. K. & Kakabadse, A. P. (2009). A dynamic theory of leadership development. Leadership & Organization Development Journal. Vol. 30 No. 6, 2009 pp. 563-576 q Emerald Group Publishing Limited 0143-7739 DOI 10.1108/01437730910981935
(5) Sulpizio. L. (2013). CLP Weeks 1 and 2 Lectures. LED 620 World View & Adult Development. National University.
(6) Senge, P. M. (2006). The Fifth Discipline, The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization. New York. Currency – Doubleday.