Новые времена Go back to the homepage A leader who "washes the feet" of team members Imagine for a moment that a top manager calls a special meeting and, having brought a basin and a towel, starts washing the feet of his employees. Such a scene at a corporate retreat would be considered very strange at best, if not unbelievable. Yet, when we read accounts of the life of Jesus Christ in the Bible, this is exactly what He did. And it was as shocking then as it is today. Jesus had been leading His group of twelve disciples for three years.At that time they did not yet know that His ministry on earth was coming to an end.He decided to teach them a very clear, albeit striking, visual lesson.Pouring water into a basin, taking a towel, Jesus began to wash the feet of His followers, as described in John 13:4-17. Foot washing was a common practice in those days because the roads traveled were dusty and dirty, but it was always performed by humble servants, not gentlemen. Can you imagine this scene?An awkward silence filled the upper room, and Jesus' disciples exchanged frightened, incredulous glances. Finally, one of them, Peter, known for his fiery temper, expressed his shock with words of humble defiance, "Peter said to Him, ‘You will not wash my feet forever'" (John 13:8).To which Jesus replied, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."Jesus had a purpose in setting an indelible example of how true leaders should serve those they lead. In today's business world, we often see frightening changes as people climb the corporate ladder.Those who were once good-natured, considerate and flexible undergo a radical transformation as they move up the hierarchical ladder. They become rude, rude, arrogant and inaccessible, forgetting about their employees.They start to see only what they want and who they want. At what point in the ascent does this "metamorphosis" occur? Mountaineers often suffer from "altitude sickness", the consequences of which are devastating. In thin air, the lack of oxygen can create serious mental disorders, sometimes irreversible. Can we draw an analogy with the corporate ladder? The reasons for these radical changes exhibited by rising leaders can be attributed to one of the three most common weaknesses that leaders suffer from: POWER. The other weaknesses written about in many authoritative sources are money and sex, but that's for another time. For now, let's look at power, describing it as the ability to wield power consciously and sometimes arbitrarily. Leaders, intoxicated by the prestige and power at their disposal, adopt a "command and obey" approach. They provide no opportunity for discussion, debate or argument. At their worst, these leaders succumb to a temptation that dates back to the Garden of Eden as described in the first chapter of Genesis, the first book of the Bible. "…you will be like gods, knowing good and evil," the tempter told Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:5). Rulers, politicians, bureaucrats, executives, CEOs, managers – all can be seduced into taking power. This is why one of the last acts of Jesus of Nazareth before He was betrayed and crucified was to wash the feet of those He led, including even Judas, the very one who betrayed Him shortly afterward. Can you imagine a similar scene or equivalent action taking place where you work? If you are in a leadership position, can you perform seriously and sincerely? Proverbs 22:4 gives us something to think about, "Humility is followed by the fear of the Lord, riches and riches and glory and life." Sincere humility and a willingness to serve those we lead is the power to inspire a team to excel! Sergio Fortes is a corporate strategic business consultant, consultant coach and mentor. He has been an active member of CBMC Brazil and has coordinated the translation of Manna for Monday into Portuguese for over 20 years. He is committed to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ to make disciples. Questions for reflection/discussion Are you familiar with the story of Jesus Christ washing the feet of His followers? Knowing that this custom was performed by humble servants, how do you imagine the followers' reaction? Have you ever witnessed a supervisor in the workplace do something like this – if not washing feet, then demonstrating that he or she was serving unselfishly? If so, describe the situation and the reaction that followed. The author describes how some people, as they climb the corporate ladder or organizational hierarchy, have a completely different attitude toward those they once worked with. Have you ever observed this? What do you think is the impact of a leader who demonstrates genuine humility and concern for those for whom he or she is responsible? Which seems more effective – a "command and obey" approach or a humble attitude of service to others? Explain your answer NOTES. If you have a Bible and want to read more, consider the following passages: Proverbs 11:2, 15:33, 16:18, 21:24, 28:2; Mark 10:42-45; Philippians 2:3-4 Difficult task Cultivating a genuine spirit of humility and developing relationships that focus on the needs of others first can be difficult. If this is something you would like to do, the support of others can be very helpful. Who can you team up with in this endeavor – one or more people you know well and trust can ask to support you – and in turn receive mutual support? How can you start this today?
