Servant of the Boat

“She’s as integral to the boat as the rowers are; they can’t do it without her.”
– Tom Terhaar
Head Coach, US Women’s Olympic Rowing Team
(1969 – )

“King of the Hill?” or “Servant of the Enterprise?”

At the 2012 London Olympics, the USA Women’s Eight Oared Racing Shell concluded an eleven-year championship run with two Golds.  Praise is superfluous.

But we think for true leadership, there can be no better example.

So many times, when people are called to leadership, their head, self-perception and ego all seem to pass through an “inflation zone” wherein they become power obsessed and self-aggrandizing. When enjoying a promotion, these people somehow get the mistaken idea that the organization now centers on them.  They suffer “King of the Hill” syndrome.  Lost in their new rank, they fancy themselves better, smarter and more deserving than others.  You may have worked “for” such an individual. (We hope not for long…)

Here’s what we believe is a truer leadership perspective and an example to boot: The “Coxswain” is the only person who can actually see where the boat is going: hence is in position to steer… Aha!  She’s at the back, on the job, guiding the rudder.  The Coxswain also looks after the team’s orchestration; calling the stroke, rhythm and pace.  From her vantage point, she can clearly see all the oar tips and catch/clear any rhythmic deficiencies.  She keeps up a running race commentary to focus people on the job, not the pain of doing it.  She concentrates on what only she can do — keep the team focused on what only they can do.

Good Coxswains are beyond price. And their teams love and lionize them — also throw them in the river after the race to prevent swelling of the head.  After all, the Cox doesn’t move the boat; OARSMEN do that.  Being a great Coxswain (Boat Servant) entails being OK with having one’s ego regularly reduced by cold river baths.  Hey, you don’t compete unless you’ve got a ride…  A good thing if all leaders were treated with such tough love.

Coxswains, and Great Leaders while beyond price, come last.  (Washington, Listen up!)

Applications

1. Personally
Ever wondered why you just can’t get a break at Starbucks?  Ever taken the time to learn the Barista’s name? YOU don’t make the coffee; THEY do!  Gotta love ’em into great service!

2. At Home
Ever stayed home, waiting for the service guy, then treated him like an infantile servant?  Did the A/C break again (at a price of $530 for the call)?  Maybe we should begin by giving the service industry a little more respect…  Less heat, more appreciation.  Stepping back from the service thing: How about the way-too-familiar way you may be dismissing your family members ’cause you know them too well for actual praise and admiration — they’re lucky you don’t publish their mistakes directly to Facebook…  Let’s take a lesson from Crews and Coxswains: appreciation and tough love.

3. At Work
Working for someone, or working with a great team?  Your attitude can begin to form the nucleus of a winning organization.  Don’t even think about being King of the Hill!  Promotion isn’t a “promotion,” it’s going to the “back of the boat.”  It’s being placed in a position that only you can accomplish: see the line, set up the boat, steer the course and keep the team turned on!  If you serve the boat well, the team wins.

YOU don’t get it done; THEY Do!  But maybe because you became the “Servant of the Enterprise…”

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