Posted by Una Martone on Mar 29, 2018
Fellow Rotarians,
 
At the District Training Assembly on March 17, participants took place in a discussion on leadership.  Everyone was asked to think about a person, anyone, who had greatly influenced their lives and who had significantly invested in their success and well-being.  People mentioned teachers, coaches, parents, mentors, bosses, a full gamut of people ~ NOT necessarily people with important “leadership” titles. 
 
Next, we took the discussion a step further and talked about what qualities they associated with the people who had influenced or invested in them.  Again, the list was broad.  Some of the common qualities mentioned were honesty, sincerity, listening, trust, accountability, dedication, love, compassion, generosity, determination… and more. 
 
The discussion really defined the people who have had the greatest impact on most of our lives as servant leaders.  The term SERVANT LEADER was probably never even known by any of the people we thought of, but the definition fits.  Servant leaders invest in the growth and development of other people FIRST.  They approach every situation with listening and they value people first.  They influence and inspire us and we become more successful as a result. 
 
You can always tell a servant leader by the group of people around him or her.  If someone is surrounded by committed, empowered, enlightened leaders, that someone is a servant leader whether they even know it or acknowledge it.  It’s an easy application in Rotary ~ there are so many servant leaders.  They might not always have the biggest titles or the most responsibility, but they have the heart of the people and their influence yields healthy relationships built on trust and loyalty. 
 
So, I offer up this recap of the District Training Assembly activity and suggest that everyone reading this note take a moment and think of someone who greatly influenced your life in a positive way.  What was it about that person that influenced you and how can YOU carry on that legacy to have greater influence and impact on those around you?  How can  you apply the influence, inspiration, and support in Rotary?  Just imagine how much we could accomplish if we all supported one another’s success just a little piece more!
 
Thank you all for your service and for your servant leadership. 
 
Yours in Rotary,
 
Una Martone
2017/18 District Governor
Rotary District 7390