Servant Leadership in Action
Customer Service and Servant Leadership are often things you hear me talk about, I yearn to continuously engage in them and train others to understand and be able to provide the best customer service. I enjoy serving others, I am fulfilled when I get the opportunity to do so. Honestly, it comes easy. It is a gift from God and I am thankful for the gift - I do not take it for granted. I’m often drawn towards others who have a servants heart.
Helpers, #2 on the Enneagram. Fortunately, I have four special #2’s in my life at Best Sign Group. My husband, Russ, and three of my trammates at work Shawn, Shirley, and Deanna. I get to spend time with at work with all of these helpers (servant hearts). You’ve likely heard me say this before, “you spend more waking hours a day with people you work with than you do your own spouse or family “. These relationships need to be taken seriously, they impact and affect you.
Recently, we went through a restructuring at work. Two of my #2’s change positions and earned new titles.
Deanna, my upfront - number one, #2. She owns the front end. Always, always - willing to help out, greeting everyone with a smile and thriving on serving others. Deanna is now our front end coordinator and she has hit a homerun over the last three weeks in her new position. Currently, working through training two new team members to her department, she shares her processes and tricks of the trade with them. Counters, floors and windows always sparkle. Coffee made fresh every morning, and she never leaves without asking me, “anything else you need for me”. #ServantLeadership
Shawn, my personal number two, and #2, one of the secret sauces in my life. I did not know exactly what Shawn would be doing at BSG when I hired him four years ago, but I knew I wanted him on our team. He takes the time to get to know you before giving advice, he continually invest in you, he improves, he teaches, he encourages, he stretches your boundaries and he challenges. He makes killer designs, handles all IT, develops and improves our processes and even cooks and cleans for us at work. He prays and he jokes. He wants to serve and wants to make my life better every day. He serves! His goal is not to have my job but to make my job easier. Always willing to highlight the joy in those we work with.
Shawn taught a servant leadership class to our team two years ago. It was guided by a book from Cheryl Bachelder #DareToServe. We spent an hour week for eight weeks watching a short video then diving into discussion and spending time reflecting with some homework for the following week. Shawn added value in our teams hearts and minds, helping us understand what servant leadership looked like.
Three weeks ago, Shawn was promoted to VP of Operations and is now responsible for helping me lead our team of 15.
Last week, Shawn mentioned that the back gravel parking lot needed the magnetic bar rolled over it to pick up nails and screws that often get dropped from trailers during unloading of old signs. Kale quickly spoke up and volunteered to do it. Kale showed up early the next morning to only find Shawn already rolling away on the gravel parking lot. Klickety - clank, screws and nails were jumping onto the magnetic bar of the roller. Shawn is an early bird and knew the boys would soon be in and wanted to get it done before they could. He wanted to serve his team even by rolling the parking lot. This guy deserves a huge shout out for his willingness to serve people. #ServantLeadership
Kudos to my friend and team member, and newest VP of Operations - Shawn Griffin.