#Leadership : How Servant Leaders ‘Fill The Gap’…Leadership Is a byproduct of Serving Others; It’s the Intangible Value you Create in Others Who Don’t Even Realize They’re Being Led.

To Fill the Gap Means to Serve Others Before Serving Oneself. Servant Leaders Recognize that Enabling Others Serves the Betterment of the Team while also Building Oneself. To fill the gap is to serve a purpose. What gap will you fill today?

 

Image credit: Hamed Saber on Flickr

Last week, August 6th, was the fifth anniversary of Extortion 17, the helicopter flight that carried 32 of our nation’s most elite counter-terrorism forces to attempt to answer the call to protect their brothers in arms until it was shot down by Taliban forces. Two Army ranger elements, entrenched in volleys of gunfire with Taliban insurgents, each found themselves in situations where they needed support. With US forces and resources spread all over Afghanistan, a quick reaction force of Navy SEALs boarded a helicopter to answer their comrades’ calls.

Working in small numbers already, the SEALs had no choice but to bring everybody. They boarded Extortion flight 17 to help their Ranger brethren and, in the end, paid the ultimate price. One lucky shot made by the Taliban took down the helicopter with a rocket propelled grenade. All aboard perished.

The story of Extortion 17 and the heroes aboard underpin the selflessness that every leader, every organization aspire towards yet few actually achieve: to work and live for something greater than oneself; to “fill the gap” and answer the call for help whenever and wherever it is needed.

Filling the Gap

In ancient Greek battles, Spartans were considered elite through their warrior repertoire of unique fighting skill blended with insurmountable will. They did everything together—eat, sleep, train, fight—which ultimately led to their main battlefield advantage– the phalanx.

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Forbes.com | August 18, 2015 | Jeff Boss