What and who are you a steward of?
Leadership is stewardship, it's temporary and you're accountable. -Andy Stanley
I held several especially important positions in the Army. I was given limited resources and complex missions; I was charged with the wellbeing of my soldiers and the inclusion of their families. I was a good steward of all of this. Merriam Webster defines stewardship as, the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care: stewardship of natural resources. I love this word in leadership. It reeks with selflessness, one of the absolute best attributes of leaders and people in an organization. Stewardship causes us to see and appreciate the bigger picture, the cause of our organizations and our role in it. I wanted my leaders to be good stewards.
Most titles in a business from CEO down to supervisor come with a job description that requires stewardship. As a CEO I held the position many had held before me. The position came with great power and responsibility. I saw it as my duty to be a good steward of that title, to live out the true meaning outlined in its job description, to honor those who had held it before. The Army (or your company) entrusted me with its care.
In a business, we should be good stewards of our mission, our company’s purpose and cause, values, culture, and resources. Our people ought to be good stewards of these things. If I wanted Margaret to be a good steward of our sales mission and team, I would explain the importance of the position, its title, purpose, its people and what it means to the company. I would give her the big picture emphasizing that she and her team are part of a team of teams. I would most certainly want her to be a good steward of our customers, past, present and future. I would charge her with the care of all of that and I would take this charge very seriously.
This is important. I fired a commander I loved because he disgraced the position he held. I thought he was a fine man and I know he loved his people but his actions were not in keeping with good stewardship. His position, like mine, came with great power and responsibility and he abused that power. My loyalty shifted away from him, toward the prestigious position he held. I was a good steward of the soldiers and leaders of his organization. I honored not him but the position, its history, and its meaning.
There will be a leader who follows you as you followed other leaders. Take good care of that position you hold and the people entrusted in your care. Be a good steward…
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Rob Campbell