Friday, November 15, 2013
Today!
The issues raised in the book apply to our society today in that, although it's easy to look back at our nations' past and criticize how horrible slavery and racism was, we need to realize that racism is still prevalent. Although it takes on a different form than it did in the 19th century, it is still a relevant topic that needs reform. Just because slavery is in our nation's past doesn't mean it's not relevant to today's society. Also, it's easy to think of how horrible slavery is and question how mankind could ever commit such a terrible atrocity; however, we must be watchful to make sure that just as awful of things are going on without our even knowing about it. Just look at the majority or white southerners in Douglass's narrative... they saw nothing wrong with what was being done to blacks and were oblivious to the pain and suffering that was going on. Learn from The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, constantly check to see if something in our society is not right and see how we can change it.
What I learned!
I was inspired by The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass since I realize that no matter what my circumstance or situation is, I can overcome the odds. My favorite quote from the book was, "In the darkest hours of my career in slavery, this living word of faith and spirit of hope departed not from me, but remained like ministering angels to cheer me on through the gloom. This good spirit was from God, and to him I offer thanksgiving and praise." I find this inspiring in that, when you have vision and hope, not even the chains of slavery can hold you down.
By applying the servant leader's 5 ways of being, I gained insight into how these 5 components fit into individuals and how the ways that these individuals utilize these components affects others around them. By being a better servant leader, I can influence those around me more effectively and better serve others, which is really what leadership is all about.
By applying the servant leader's 5 ways of being, I gained insight into how these 5 components fit into individuals and how the ways that these individuals utilize these components affects others around them. By being a better servant leader, I can influence those around me more effectively and better serve others, which is really what leadership is all about.
Captain Auld
Captain Auld could have been a much better servant leader. He was inconsistent with the way he acted which implies hat he was not authentic. If he had been more true to himself and to others in all circumstances... whether angry or happy, he could've been a more authentic leader.
He wasn't vulnerable since he wasn't honest with himself or others since, according to Douglass he, "deceived himself and others." If he had been more honest to himself and freely admitted his wrong doings, he would've fulfilled the vulnerable faction of servant leadership.
Auld was, "stubborn and cruel," which explains how he wasn't open to the slaves' valid excuses or complaints. Clearly, he wasn't accepting. However, if he had just been more humble by being open to ideas and complaints, he would've been a better accepting leader.
He also was never present since, not once throughout the book did he make himself available to his slaves, to help or assist them. If Auld would've worked alongside his slaves and made himself available to them, he would've been a more present leader.
Douglass portrayed Auld as a slave driver that never made himself a resource for others and never humbled himself to meet the needs of others; this make sit evident that he was not a useful servant leader. However, if he would have met the needs of others and showed them humility and permissiveness, he could've been a more useful servant leader.
If Captain Auld would've successfully made these changes by being more authentic, vulnerable, accepting, present, and useful, he could've had a more efficient and harmonious plantation. With these 5 components being met, the slaves would've respected him more and would be more willing to obey him since they would be serving him out of love rather than forced submission.
He wasn't vulnerable since he wasn't honest with himself or others since, according to Douglass he, "deceived himself and others." If he had been more honest to himself and freely admitted his wrong doings, he would've fulfilled the vulnerable faction of servant leadership.
Auld was, "stubborn and cruel," which explains how he wasn't open to the slaves' valid excuses or complaints. Clearly, he wasn't accepting. However, if he had just been more humble by being open to ideas and complaints, he would've been a better accepting leader.
He also was never present since, not once throughout the book did he make himself available to his slaves, to help or assist them. If Auld would've worked alongside his slaves and made himself available to them, he would've been a more present leader.
Douglass portrayed Auld as a slave driver that never made himself a resource for others and never humbled himself to meet the needs of others; this make sit evident that he was not a useful servant leader. However, if he would have met the needs of others and showed them humility and permissiveness, he could've been a more useful servant leader.
If Captain Auld would've successfully made these changes by being more authentic, vulnerable, accepting, present, and useful, he could've had a more efficient and harmonious plantation. With these 5 components being met, the slaves would've respected him more and would be more willing to obey him since they would be serving him out of love rather than forced submission.
Evidence of Servant Leadership
In "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass", Douglass made the statement, "I should be false to the earliest sentiments of my soul, if I suppressed the opinion. I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and incur my own abhorrence." This quote sums up the fact that Douglass was an authentic person, he was true to himself and to others.
Douglass represents the vulnerable faction of servant leadership in that he was open with his fears and doubts and that he was honest with himself and to others. When Douglass was describing an episode with Mr. Covey he explained, "He asked me if I wanted to persist in my resistance. I told him I did, come what might; that he had used me like a brute for six months, and that I was determined to be used so no longer." Douglass was willing to fight through his fears and stand up for himself, which is the mark of a vulnerable leader.
Douglass described his master as a hard-hearted individual who was never open to anything but his own ideas. The book explained, "No words, no tears, no prayers, from his gory victim, seemed to move his iron heart from its bloody purpose. The louder she screamed, the harder he whipped." His master represents the opposite of being an accepting servant leader since he was cruel and mean no matter what his victims wanted.
Mr. Covey, although a cruel slave owner, portrayed the present component of servant leadership since he made himself available to his slaves and worked alongside them. The book explains, "Mr. Covey was one of the few slaveholders who could and did work with his hands. He was a hard-working man... His work went on in his absence almost as well as in his presence; and he had the faculty of making us feel that he was ever present with us."
When Douglass was describing his mistress, he explained, "She was a pious, warm, and tender-hearted woman. There was no suffering for which she had not a tear. She had bread for the hungry, clothes for the naked, and comfort for every mourner that came within her reach." This quote makes it evident that his mistress was a useful individual who made sure that the needs of others were met.
When Douglass described his friend, Mr. Nathan Johnson, he stated, "I was hungry, and he gave me meat; I was thirsty, and he gave me drink; I was a stranger, and he took me in." This quote sums up that Nathan was a useful individual who looked out for the needs of others and made sure that they were met.
Douglass represents the vulnerable faction of servant leadership in that he was open with his fears and doubts and that he was honest with himself and to others. When Douglass was describing an episode with Mr. Covey he explained, "He asked me if I wanted to persist in my resistance. I told him I did, come what might; that he had used me like a brute for six months, and that I was determined to be used so no longer." Douglass was willing to fight through his fears and stand up for himself, which is the mark of a vulnerable leader.
Douglass described his master as a hard-hearted individual who was never open to anything but his own ideas. The book explained, "No words, no tears, no prayers, from his gory victim, seemed to move his iron heart from its bloody purpose. The louder she screamed, the harder he whipped." His master represents the opposite of being an accepting servant leader since he was cruel and mean no matter what his victims wanted.
Mr. Covey, although a cruel slave owner, portrayed the present component of servant leadership since he made himself available to his slaves and worked alongside them. The book explains, "Mr. Covey was one of the few slaveholders who could and did work with his hands. He was a hard-working man... His work went on in his absence almost as well as in his presence; and he had the faculty of making us feel that he was ever present with us."
When Douglass was describing his mistress, he explained, "She was a pious, warm, and tender-hearted woman. There was no suffering for which she had not a tear. She had bread for the hungry, clothes for the naked, and comfort for every mourner that came within her reach." This quote makes it evident that his mistress was a useful individual who made sure that the needs of others were met.
When Douglass described his friend, Mr. Nathan Johnson, he stated, "I was hungry, and he gave me meat; I was thirsty, and he gave me drink; I was a stranger, and he took me in." This quote sums up that Nathan was a useful individual who looked out for the needs of others and made sure that they were met.
Strengths and Limitations
One downside of servant leadership is that it encourages people to adopt an approach to leadership that is sometimes too passive, and, in some cases, ineffective. Also, Leaders don't always accept; sometimes they need to set and maintain standards, which requires rejection. As James Manktelow put it, "leaders have to create visions of the future which engage the people around them. They have to inspire and motivate their teams. They have to maintain focus and control distractions. And yes, they support and enable and build people, but they do this from a position of strength and self-confidence, not from a position of weakness (or of "service")." In other words, leaders have to be in a position of authority and step-in and take charge at times.
Servant Leadership
Servant Leadership is looking to the needs of others and seeing how you can help solve their problems and help promote their personal development. The main focus of this theory is putting the emphasis on others, since only content and motivated people are able to reach their goals and fulfill expectations. To achieve this, James Autry identifies 5 ways of being which are:
1) Be Authentic
2) Be Vulnerable
3) Be Accepting
4) Be Present
5) Be Useful
To "Be Authentic" means to, "be the same person in every circumstance. Hold to the same values in whatever role you have... Being real." It's first knowing yourself and then being yourself. In order to be authentic we must reveal our true selves, including our emotions and how we feel. As Autry puts it, "mentoring is also helping people to learn to be themselves. You do that by honoring what is good and unique about those you are mentoring, not trying to bend them to your image."
Being Vulnerable is being honest with your feelings and open with your fears and doubts. The three word phrase, "I was wrong", should be prevalent in the speaking repertoire of a servant leader to show that they admit mistakes openly. Autry explains, "being vulnerable takes a great deal of courage because it means letting go of the old notions of control and that we must depend on others." Vulnerability also has an aspect of empathy as the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes and view situations from another person's viewpoint.
The third component of the 5 ways of being is to Be Accepting. This implies that you accept everyone's ideas as valid for discussion and review, and that you focus on the ideas themselves, not on the person who presented them. It also means that you accept and embrace disagreement and conflict as a learning process. Being accepting means to accept others without judgement.
Being present is to have your whole self available at all times and to be available to yourself and to others as you respond to problems and challenges of team members.
This brings us to our last principle, being useful. To be a successful leader, you must use yourself as a resource for others. This means to think of yourself as a tool to fulfill the needs of others and help them solve their problems and struggles.
1) Be Authentic
2) Be Vulnerable
3) Be Accepting
4) Be Present
5) Be Useful
To "Be Authentic" means to, "be the same person in every circumstance. Hold to the same values in whatever role you have... Being real." It's first knowing yourself and then being yourself. In order to be authentic we must reveal our true selves, including our emotions and how we feel. As Autry puts it, "mentoring is also helping people to learn to be themselves. You do that by honoring what is good and unique about those you are mentoring, not trying to bend them to your image."
Being Vulnerable is being honest with your feelings and open with your fears and doubts. The three word phrase, "I was wrong", should be prevalent in the speaking repertoire of a servant leader to show that they admit mistakes openly. Autry explains, "being vulnerable takes a great deal of courage because it means letting go of the old notions of control and that we must depend on others." Vulnerability also has an aspect of empathy as the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes and view situations from another person's viewpoint.
The third component of the 5 ways of being is to Be Accepting. This implies that you accept everyone's ideas as valid for discussion and review, and that you focus on the ideas themselves, not on the person who presented them. It also means that you accept and embrace disagreement and conflict as a learning process. Being accepting means to accept others without judgement.
Being present is to have your whole self available at all times and to be available to yourself and to others as you respond to problems and challenges of team members.
This brings us to our last principle, being useful. To be a successful leader, you must use yourself as a resource for others. This means to think of yourself as a tool to fulfill the needs of others and help them solve their problems and struggles.
Summary
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is an inspirational book about how Douglass overcame the struggles of slavery and came to be one of America's greatest abolitionists. It outlines in graphic detail the brutalities of slavery and the abuse of power by slave owners. The underlying theme of the book is Douglass's yearning for freedom and his desire for everyone to be treated fairly and equally. The book covers his life and struggles as a slave and finally, his escape out of slavery.
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