In the fourth couplet of his poem ‘If-,’ Rudyard Kipling wrote:
“Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;”
Kipling is telling us that as leaders, we must be willing to put our cause or beliefs ahead of our personal gain. He is reminding us that true leadership requires a degree of selflessness. It requires us to put our cause and those we lead ahead of ourselves.
When we think of selfless leaders, many great names come to mind: Jesus; Gandhi; King; Lincoln; Mandela; Stockdale…the list goes on. Whether we call it selfless leadership, altruistic leadership, or servant leadership, the concept is not new. Most religious traditions extol the virtue of selflessness and the need to lead for the benefit of others. The Bible, Torah, Koran, Bhagavad Gita, and many other religious writings are loaded with references to selflessness. History is full of stories of selfless leaders who did the right thing simply because it was the right thing to do. They weren’t seeking personal gain or reward. In fact, the leaders above understood that their actions would ultimately cost them dearly.
Lately selflessness has not been an attribute that is highly celebrated in leaders. Today’s leaders are more often known for the size of their egos and the cults of personality that surround them. Many leaders spend their energies focusing on their personal rewards and status, rather than focusing on the greater good of those they serve.
Most great leaders have demonstrated some degree of selflessness. Leadership is, after all, dependent on one’s ability to gain followers, so leaders must give others a reason to follow them. Most of us want to follow someone in whom we believe. We want to be part of something worthwhile and meaningful, so we follow leaders who are working for something important.
So how do we become leaders that are more selfless? The good news is we don’t have sacrifice to the degree that the leaders above did – no need to die or spend years in prison for our cause. We also don’t have to ignore our personal commitments and responsibilities. The bad news is that it still requires a great deal of work and personal sacrifice. The following are some simple lessons for those wishing to become more selfless.
Anyone can become a selfless leader. Selfless leadership requires hard work, patience, sacrifice, and most of all love. We must love what we do, the people we serve, and our cause. A selfless leader’s journey is a testament to Kipling’s lines, “Or being hated don’t give way to hating, And yet not look too good nor talk too wise.”