I recently discovered why I'm feeling flu-like symptoms ... It's because the election season is almost in full swing.

Soon we will be inundated with endless commercials persuading us to vote for a particular candidate. Honestly, I am not interested in hearing another narcissistic self-serving pitch.

I'm more interested in hearing how they'll get back to serving the people. The world doesn't need new leaders cut from the same self-serving cloth. We need to help them discover the best-kept leadership secret in plain sight—Servant Leadership.

Be a Servant

Being a servant is often frowned upon. Instead life is all about being successful and that doesn't quite equate to being a servant. The world tells you to have ambition and drive so you can one day lead as CEO. But self-promotion seldom results in effective leadership.

If you are only focused on what you want, if you rise up through manipulation and power play, only you benefit. As a result, that leadership is seldom influential. A truly effective leader is defined by a different heart attitude.

It reflects in the success of the people that they work with and manage. It is evidenced in the organizations they lead, and it impacts dramatically on a business' bottom line. Their secret is simply that they lead people by being a servant to them.

Can You Lead and Serve at the Same Time?

When you picture a servant you probably think of someone with a low position. A leader by contrast is someone who is elevated by title. How is it possible then for a person to be both a servant and a leader?

One of the best examples is Jesus Christ, who is arguable one of the most influential men and leaders of all time. He had thousands of people following Him as he moved from town to town. He was looked up to as a great teacher and healer, and did many miraculous things.

"Now before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. Now supper being concluded, the devil had put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him. Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands and that He came from God and was going to God, rose from supper, laid aside His garments, and took a towel and wrapped Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was wrapped" (John 13:1-5, MEV).

For believers He was the leader of all leaders. Yet one night while having dinner with a group of His closest friends, this leader stripped down to a servant's attire and washed the feet of His followers. This was not an act of manipulation. It was an act of love.

He had chosen them to lead and succeed Him in his ministry. In washing their feet He was demonstrating that for them to be effective leaders, they needed to have a heart attitude of a servant.

Characteristics of a Servant Leader

A servant leader is someone who understands the bigger picture. They know the benefit of putting the group, individual or organizational agenda ahead of their own. A servant-hearted leader understands that their task is to equip and empower those they lead.

By helping group members or employees achieve their goals, they know they are enriching the organization as a whole. A leader who is a servant is secure enough to know that serving others takes nothing away from their leadership position. A servant leader is confident. They do not need a title.

They take on the role of a servant willingly out of love. They have a true desire to help others and happily initiate service even when there is no direct benefit to them. An influential leader ignites an organization's potential and drives the vision by being a servant themselves.

You too can be an effective leader by having the heart attitude of a servant as you empower, equip and encourage others.

Rev. Clarence E. Stowers Jr. succeeded his father, Dr. Clarence Stowers Sr., as the pastor of the historic Mars Hill Baptist Church of Chicago in 1999. Mars Hill has experienced phenomenal ministry growth under his visionary pastoral leadership. Follow Rev. Stowers' blog, The Urban Pastor or check out Mars Hill's website.

For the original article, visit cestowers.com.

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