Steward (stoo-erd) noun… A person who manages another’s property or financial affairs; one who administers anything as the agent of another or others.*
Leaders are stewards. While this may not be a surprise to most, at least in theory, many leaders quickly drift into either of two categories:
1. Believing that stewardship is simply making more money for the sake of making more money, or
2. Utilizing organizational resources, including employees, as if all were a birthright, justifying the sacrifice of as many as possible for their personal gain.
If this sounds preposterous, EVERY leader faces the temptation that they are entitled to a better life at the expense of others. The lure of power and wealth twists our minds to justify that OUR good is for THEIR benefit. We believe OUR creation is for OUR benefit, regardless of the consequences to others. We wrongly believe WE have created something in a vacuum, regardless of the effort and creativity of others, and that WE deserve the influence and greater reward as a result. Let’s consider the larger perspective.
Stewards are not owners of anything, but mere managers of the resources and authority entrusted to them for a temporary period of time. Yes, everything is temporary. We can’t take our estates with us when we die, so the maximum time we manage anything is our individual lifetime. We can certainly try to control assets beyond the grave via Trusts, but for most of us, our reign ends at our death. At their deathbed, the rich don’t wish for more money, we wish for more opportunities to help others. We wish for family memories. Our legacy is built on relationships, not dollars.
More assets do not = Legacy
More assets = More responsibility
Relationships = Legacy
Just because we have more assets to stewards does not mean they belong to us. Our blessing is not for our benefit, but for those we serve. Our responsibility as leaders is to serve as WISE CONDUITS rather than GREEDY HOARDERS. Our influence is a result of our ability to influence others. And the duration of our influence is in direct proportion to our giving of that influence, not our withholding.
Accordingly, money is not the central theme of this subject. Stewardship has less to do with money and more to do with the condition of our hearts. Why? Our motives determine our stewardship. If our heart feels entitled, for instance, then we will use people to make money rather than using money to help people. Adding value to people’s lives is a steward’s goal, utilizing resources efficiently to do it. This is the sublime theme of stewardship.
The greatest tests come not in great adversities, but in great prosperity.**
There are lots of great definitions of stewardship, but let’s agree on one for the sake of this endeavor: stewardship is the efficient use of temporary resources to create an enduring impact in the lives of others. Resources can be time, people, money, energy, momentum, and yes, authority.
Great leaders…
1. Understand duty, that their role is a responsibility for the greater good, and not entirely for personal gain.
2. Abhor entitlement in others and themselves. They deny themselves to benefit others rather than taking from others to serve themselves.
The empire of a great leader is found in the changed lives of those they serve.
Here are some takeaway questions for the week:
We become what we seek. What do we seek most in life? Power is an illusion. Adoration or fear from man is too small a thing, and fickle at best.
Is our company chasing short-term profits at the expense of its people? Or, is our organization steadily pursuing wealth by building and developing its most valuable resource – human capital? What adjustments need to be made to shift the culture?
Interested in developing a stewardship perspective that brings life and sustainability to you and your team? We would love to help!
John Shiffert
John is a Delivery Partner with Redwoods Leadership Group, leveraging thirty years of business experience, including non-profit and C-suite tenure to help teams develop and execute vision.
*https://www.dictionary.com/browse/steward
**https://todaygodisfirst.com/the-greatest-test/