BECOMING A SELF LESS LEADER: LESSONS FROM A LIFE OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP

Abstract

The author, who retired as president of Claremont Graduate University in June 2024, writes that he “developed a purpose statement: When I get to the end of my path, I want to be able to look back and know at that moment that I did everything possible to have as much positive impact on as many people as I possibly could have and that I never shied away from an opportunity to do so.” The concept of time is a major consideration: “We sit in these seats of leadership for a brief, fleeting moment, and it’s a privilege not to be taken lightly. So be grateful, make the most of it, leave it better than you found it, let others have the credit, and make sure they are having fun and doing things that are meaningful to them.” And things must be put into perspective: “Leadership is about the pursuit and not the destination. I don’t think of myself less as a leader per se. Rather, I think of myself as a student of leadership, always learning and growing, always trying to get better at the craft, and always trying to learn from others and to do good for others as a result.”