Servant Leadership- The Way of the Master and his Followers

My Grandfather, a true servant leader: No one in my life has exemplified a servant leader as much as my Grandfather. He has exemplified each and every aspect of servant leadership that I have ever learned. The life that my grandfather has lead has been all about service. He is loving, caring, thoughtful, inspirational, and most importantly he taught these principles to me through love and concern. The greatest event that taught me of Student Leadership was when he had me assist in helping a family that lived next door in some of their basic needs. To do this he had me assist him in delivery of necessities and ensured that I recognized that I was not to be noticed or receive recognition, but ponder the feelings that were in my heart. That was how I learned to be a righteous leader, any time I feel that feeling, I know that I am doing the right thing.

Servant Leadership is, the leadership that recognizes that the only true way to lead is to serve, with ones own hands, with ones own sweat, and with ones own effort. No leader should ever live on the means of those whom they serve, but should be the means by which the lives of those that they serve are made easier and filled with joy.

To combat the argument that servant leadership hurts us in our future career I would respond that the servant leader holds greater control of the lives of those that they serve. Think of the leader who thinks only of himself, those who follow are not motivated to serve and are not motivated to sacrifice for the betterment of the people. However, the people who are lead by one who is serving them will work harder, serve, and sacrifice for those that lead, in effect they are more effective and efficient leaders that can make a greater influence on others lives which leads to a greater gain in their own lives.

Motive and Divine Centered Leadership

What is my Motive as a BYUSA Volunteer?- Having had the opportunity to serve on the Student Advisory council last year, I chose to return this year as an Executive Director because I wanted to see others succeed within the council as I did. That success has permeated to all aspects of my life and has given me so many opportunities to succeed and I want to see others be able to have that same success. My motivation and desire is to see the Student Advisory Council become very successful over the coming years by the leadership I have the opportunity to provide.

 “In what ways am I shrinking or holding back?”- By asking this question every time I am faced with a leadership opportunity I will see in what ways I am withholding myself from those I have the opportunity to serve. By giving my full self to those I serve on the Student Advisory Council and seeking to glorify those council members instead of myself, I will be able to not worry if I am shrinking or holding back.

Sacrifice in a Leadership Role- One Friday night, I was faced with a decision between attending my favorite past time, A BYU football game, and attending a campout that our young men were very excited about attending. Understanding that I was not only needing to set an example to the others leaders but also to the boys about how sacrifice is essential in accomplishing any great cause. The great blessing that I saw from this was a change in myself. I recognized that sacrifice often times is not about losing something, but in experiencing a great joy by giving another joy up. I feel that I am more amply ready to serve in leadership roles from that experience because I know that I can chose to give something I love up for something that is of greater worth.

Honor! What does it mean to me?

What blessings have come into your life because of your obedience to the honor code?


My life has been blessed by adhering to the Honor Code because I have found peace in my education and life at BYU. I feel that another great blessing that has come from following the Honor Code is that I have had the ability to set a high goal that brings great satisfaction in accomplishing. The honor code not only ensures that there is peace in ones life or a goal for one to accomplish, but also enables one to have the opportunity to feel justified before God as you seek to feel comfortable and glorified in his presence.


From your experience, why has the Lord required an honor code at BYU?


The Honor Code at BYU has been implemented by the Lord for the purpose of helping us in the "dangerous decade" to be able to perform the task that is at hand without being wiled by the forces of the adversary. This is part of the Lord's plan to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. This mercy from the Lord is one that brings about such great joy in my heart as I seek to do my best in an environment that allows the spirit to be a guard and guide.


Through your role in BYUSA, in what ways can you 'inspire and educate' other students about the Honor Code?

Example is the greatest inspirer and educator. By living the standards in a non threatening way, I will be someone that can be looked to as a guide to follow and that others can see that living the standards is a joy and pleasure in life. I commit to such a standard and hope to see the fruits of such labors.

Leader of Leaders

In what ways am I a Leader of Leaders?

I feel that the way that I am a leader of leaders, I seek to point the focus of my abilities to the Savior. By seeking to point my own focus of leadership to the Lord, I am able to lead others to Christ who can in turn lead others to him as well. This may be the most important way of being a Leader of Leaders and can bring individuals time and time again to the Lord. I will be eternally grateful for the knowledge that the Lord is the means by which all leadership is possible.

I also seek to be a leader of leaders by consistently seeking to change in all ways possible for better. Being able to show others that you are willing to acknowledge my short comings and faults and by so doing I am able to lead others down the road to repentance that makes them better leaders.

How can my love be manifested to volunteers?

I can manifest my love to the volunteers by consistently being an empathetic listener and seeking to ensure that I truly want to know and listen to the things that volunteers are seeking to say. By doing this, I am able to provide for the needs of each individual and let them know through my actions that I am charitable to their needs and wants in life.

How can I be a more divine centered leader of leaders?

The greatest thing that I can do to be a more divine centered leader of leaders is to consistently seek the direction of heaven through prayer and pondering on the tasks at hand. By seeking the help of the divine, I myself may come divine. As B.H. Roberts recorded, "The man who so walks in the light and wisdom and power of God, will at the last, by the very force of association, make the light and wisdom and power of God his own—weaving those bright rays into a chain divine, linking himself forever to God and God to him. This [is] the sum of Messiah’s mystic words, ‘Thou, Father, in me, and I in thee’—beyond this human greatness cannot achieve." 

Delegation, Empowerment, and Followup

My Specific Action Plan in being able to more fully be able to develop as a leaders in the five core dimensions of empowerment within my area is going to focus on team work. Since I can remember, I have been one who feels that I can do everything by myself and have done little to develop a way to work with a team. However, I feel that I can improve my team abilities by focusing on three major activities.

 My first activity is centered on personal prayer and empathetic listening. By praying fervently for the ability to be more charitable and understanding of others and by personally focusing on things that I am told and things that I learn in conversations I feel will help me to know who I can trust with various responsibilities. This action will also enable me to be able to more fully know my own limits, to not put on a facade that I know things that I do not to those who know more than I know.

My second activity is to always seek help from individuals and give them responsibility that builds their confidence in me and in the program they are assisting. This can be accomplished by putting consistent effort in into thinking about what others can do to help me. To avoid complacency, I will continue to work at the level I work, yet involve others.

My last activity of focus is to ask for continual feedback from my area on how I am doing in allowing individuals to help. By consistently, at least once a week, asking those who associate with me what I can do to be better at delegation in activities where my expertise are not vibrant.

-Self- Efficacy (Competence)
I will become more aware of what I am supposed to do and execute my responsibilities.
-Self- Determination (Choice)
I will always be where I am supposed to be and choose to do the work that I have been asked to do.
-Personal Consequence (Impact)
I will seek to make an impact in the lives of others by being the kind of person that attracts others.
-Meaningfulness (Value)
I will focus on giving a quality effort in all things and seek to make every effort purposeful in the lives of others
-Trust (Security)

Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing

The SAC area of BYUSA is in a norming stage, where everyone has the same vision and is starting to move in the same direction. This stage is benefitial because it gives us the opportunity to receive guidance from those who know more concerning the area and allow us to learn from their expertise.

My desire is to assist the SAC area obtain and maintain the performing stage. To do this, my desire is to be considerate and understanding of the others in the area and allow myself to be taught by them. By diminishing the barriers that are created by thinking that you are above the rest of the group. By being humble and mold able, I will be able to ensure the area stays in the performing stage.

My desire to assist BYUSA stay in the performing stage is to ensure that I am available to help with activities and function in other areas of BYUSA. This will provide another individual who can assist in making sure every activity is carried out and has adequate man power for each event.

Things I learned from the BYUSA style guide

The two most important things that I learned while reading through the BYUSA style guide was how the brand is aimed at getting students involved by showing the brand at activities so students know where the activities are coming from. The second thing that I learned was how important it is to make students feel like they belong by making them feel like they are part of a bigger group, especially via the brand.