It’s striking that both the new government and the Democrat campaign in America have put service at the heart of their vision – not just the term but also some of the necessary behaviours.
In his first speech as Prime Minister, Keir Starmer used the term “treating people with respect”. I’m hoping this is because of a firm belief and not just paying lip service. The fundamental test will be in the medium- to long-term response – not just to the challenges which were known, but now, to the racist riots.
The concept of servant leadership isn’t new, but it’s been missing in political discourse for a long time – and I’d argue missing from discourse about the role of the public sector generally including those who are commissioned by local and national government. While it was codified in management speak by Robert Greenleaf in 1970, many of the attributes and practices come from ancient Buddhist and Taoist practices.
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