LEADING THROUGH SERVICE

All of my life, I believed that leadership was simply the ability to be in charge. Leaders were always the one in front directing people, answering questions, and giving commands. I aspired to be that person, so in high school, I took on as many leadership opportunities as possible. I served as Student Body Secretary for Student Council, Band Captain and librarian for my marching band, Captain for our Varsity Winterguard team, Instructor for our Junior Varsity Winterguard team, and Assistant Dance Teacher at my dance studio. I would jump from leadership role to leadership role doing what I thought was leadership: taking charge, giving answers, and directing people. I thought I did a pretty good job and was successful. Anyone under my leadership knew where to go, what to do, and how to do it. Simple, right? Well, actually no. Way too simple. This isn’t leadership, but I did not realize this until I left my small-scale leadership positions and took on larger roles in college. I was in for a surprise. Leading isn’t just being in charge; it’s so much more.

When I came to college, I never thought I would be able to be a “leader” on such a large scale, but I took a shot at it anyways and served on the leadership team in the Mighty Sound of the Southeast my junior and senior year (Mellophone Section Leader and Senior Staff Member, respectively). The class is officially called The Marching Band, MUSC 123. What was so helpful about this class was that it was really more than a class. It was a daily challenge of my definition of leadership and leadership skills. Prior to band camp, all of the leadership team meets together for a retreat which is comprised of two days of leadership workshops and discussion on what true leadership actually is. I quickly realized that my definition was wrong the entire time. Leadership is not as simple as being in charge. Leadership is a willingness to serve others, an organization, and a purpose larger than oneself. The keyword? Serve. Leadership is a service. Being an effective leader is being a servant. In marching band, we were not the ones in charge. We were the resources for other members to go to for help. We were the role models, we were the teachers, and we were the servants. We did whatever was needed and more. We helped in any way that we could, and more often than not, we were taking orders instead of giving them. While it was a new adjustment for me, my experience in my leadership positions in marching band groomed me for future positions of leadership.

This idea of servant-leadership is something that Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity, believes strongly in, and as a brother of this organization, it is an idea that I passionately subscribe to, especially with my experience in marching band leadership. In Kappa Kappa Psi, I served as the Vice-President of Membership (VPM). As VPM, I was the face of membership whether it be recruitment, chapter education, or the membership candidate process. I was the head of a huge part of our program, but I knew that I was not in charge. I was merely a guide for the chapter and for the membership candidates who wanted to become brothers of our organization. In the position, however, I had to give a lot of myself and had to sacrifice a lot for the betterment of my candidates. It was difficult and frustrating, but in the end, it was so worth it because I knew that I had a hand in creating new brothers that would take our chapter to new heights. From this position, the element of servant-leadership really stuck with me. Effective leaders do not simply take charge. They give of themselves to help better others, and organization, and a purpose bigger than themselves. If I had gone by my old definition of leadership and merely took control as VPM, I would not have been near as effective. My candidates would not have learned to be independent thinkers and capable brothers, the chapter would have grown to resent me, and I would have exhausted myself. Because I had a growing understanding of effective and true leadership, I was able to complete not just one but three semesters VPM and produce three different classes of dedicated, effective, and driven brothers of Kappa Kappa Psi.

Unfortunately, not everyone subscribes to the idea of servant-leadership. Many simply believe that leadership is as simple as being the one in charge, but there are so many other characteristics of a truly effective leader, the most important of these being service. If the leaders of the world began giving instead of taking, imagine the impact it could have. Imagine the work we could accomplish and the positive changes we can make. By focusing on the bigger picture, purpose, and organization, leaders can have a deeper, more positive, and lasting positive impact on all of those around them. This is true leadership.