84 THE BIBLE ON LEADERSHIP
your left.’’ Needless to say, this caused some consternation and jealousy
among the other disciples. Jesus quickly set the priorities straight: What
was most important was not the trappings of power (the place at the
table) but rather the service of others: ‘‘You know that the rulers of the
gentiles lord it over them... Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants
to become great among you must be your servant... just as the Son of
Man did not come to be served, but to serve.’’ (Matt. 20:20–28)
Jesus ‘‘made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant’’
(Phil. 2:7), and in so doing probably affected the lives of more people
than anyone else who ever lived. The most dramatic example of Jesus’
humility was his washing of his disciples’ feet. It is difficult to imagine
a modern leader acting so humbly; it was Jesus’ great gift that he never
lost his power to inspire, even in the most humble act.
‘‘He poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet,
drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him... He came
to Simon Peter... ‘No,’ said Peter, ‘you shall never wash my feet.’
Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.’ ‘Then
Lord,’ Simon Peter replied, ‘not just my feet but my hands and my head
as well!’ ’’ ( John 13:3–9)
Herb Kelleher of Southwest Airlines was a true believer in servant
leadership. ‘‘I’d describe leadership as servanthood... The best leaders
... have to be good followers as well. You have to be willing to subject
your own ego to the needs of your business.’’ As we’ve noted, this was
not just empty rhetoric. Kelleher literally ‘‘served the servers,’’ helping
the baggage handlers lift the bags and the flight attendants serve the
peanuts.^19
What made this all ‘‘work’’ was the sincerity of his humility. If hu-
mility isn’t a strong trait for you, or it just isn’t your style, don’t try to
put on a ‘‘Herb Kelleher costume.’’ There’s got to be some true humil-
ity in you to work with and develop; most employees easily see through
false humility. If, after washing his disciples’ feet, Jesus had gone out for
a lavish dinner with the local dignitaries at which he claimed all the
credit for the success of ‘‘his’’ organization, his foot-washing would
have been reduced to a meaningless and hypocritical ritual.