“Servant Leadership�
by Gail Riecken, Editor Of The CCC Statehouse News
January 25, 2019
Have you heard the term “Servant leadership� I am hearing it more and more from newer politicians. At first, I thought it was because they didn’t want to call themselves politicians, as the term seems to have some negativity these days.
I now think there is another reason, a legitimate reason. These politicians don’t want any confusion about why they are in politics. They want you and me to appreciate they are in their positions to serve us, their constituents, and they are serious about it.
The term – “Servant leadership†– what difference does it really make?  I thought about that when I read a recent article about a conversation between two legislators on the floor of the State legislature
On January 17 Rep. Ryan Hatfield presented an amendment to HB1006 on second reading. The amendment language would mandate a certain annual report from the Department of Child Services (DCS) to the Commission on the Improvement of the Status of Children. The intent of the report would be to monitor caseworkers’ caseload so that they are able to do a good job for the children in their charge.
Rep. Dave Frizzell, standing in opposition to Hatfield’s amendment, said according to the Statehouse File report, “Rep. Hatfield, I can make this promise to you, that we will update people about what’s happening with our caseworkersâ€.
I think he was really saying, “We will let you and the public know what we want you to know when we want to tell youâ€.
“Servant Leadershipâ€, then, would have addressed the response a little differently. The response would have been direct, honest, respectful and trustworthy. It would have focused on the people’s interest to have information.
A“Servant leader†might have presented a solution. It might have been to bring the amendment language before the legislative council for a summer study committee where participants might come up with compromise.
I am convinced the concepts of “Servant leadership†have real value in politics in the legislature.  At least that focus, that reminder, would go a long way toward doing more than making promises.
