Servant Leadership Insights

Ben Fauske, an O/D specialist here in Green Bay, provided these insights at a recent Servant Leadership workshop sponsored by Prophit Marketing and Festival Foods:

• Problem with connecting grandiose mission to what I do:  “I save lives … one folded carton at a time!”
• “They are CAVE people … C.A.V.E. … Citizens Against Virtually Everything!”
• Example of a great culture:  My family and I were at Disneyland, on a shuttle bus, an the driver was getting exasperated at riders not sitting down, as safety required. Finally, he broke from his “role” and yelled at offenders.  When we got off the shuttle, he got off with us.  “I apologize.  I should not have done that.  It was wrong, and I should be held accountable for it.  Here is my card and my manager’s card.  I want you to know that whatever you write him about what I did, I will verify and I will accept his penalty.”
• He asked attendees, “Why was the worst team you ever worked on the worst?”  Responses:  Boss had his favorites; too much ego (too much “I”); micromanaging; saying things that were patently untrue; promising things that were never delivered … and a power struggle between team members.
• What got him into O/D work?  “After college, I worked for eight bad cultures in eight straight years.”  (Wonder where his ninth was?)