Day 4: Gandhi Day

Gandhi

1869 - 1948

Today Prasad Gollanapalli, managing trustee of the Gandhi King Foundation came to share with us his thoughts on leadership, learning and service. The mission of the Gandhi King Foundation is: 

"To promote and work for Sarvodaya Social Order - a society based on the principles  of Welfare of all, equality of all, respect for all, a society built on the foundations of truth and nonviolence, compassion, cooperation with the spirit of understanding, tolerance, peaceful coexistance, human values, Peace with Justice in a sustainable world" (http://www.gandhikingfoundation.org/Philosophy.jsp). 

The Transformation: Arrogance to Humility

Dr. Nancy Blair referred to servant leadership as the transformation from arrogance to humility. It is an inherent trait of human nature to be arrogant. We have to work diligently and practice the idea of humility. Think about it - A baby is born arrogantly demanding to be fed, burped, changed....and the list goes on. However, a parent's job is to teach their kids the virtues of sharing, thankfulness, peace, and kindness - humility. `

By adulthood, we battle the arrogant side of our personality, and have to work very hard to transform towards humility. In this transformation to humility we must submit to the forces of a truth; a truth that one individual cannot have all the answers. A truth that one individual cannot change society on their own. A truth that one individual truly knows nothing. Thus, based upon this anecdote, humility must be learned. 

By submitting to this truth we become more dependent on others, more willing to listen, and more adept to service. We put our guard down, and become more humble. 

So, how can I as a leader move from arrogance to humility?

As I reflect on this question I think about the doctoral process in our program. The dissertation process in doctoral school requires the student to become diligent in their expertise of a particular subject - world class expertise. However, at the same time we are tasked to become more humble in our final service themed year of the program (I am currently in the final year of the program).  The juxtaposition comes from attaining world class expertise while simultaneously choosing humility as our virtue. I have to begin practicing humility in this final year of the program. 

"[One] who claims only to be a humble searcher after Truth, knows his limitations, makes mistakes, never hesitates to admit them when he makes them and frankly confesses that he, like a scientist, is making experiments about some of 'the external verities; of life, but cannot even claim to be a scientist"