INTERVIEW WITH TOM THIBODEAU, DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP AND MASTER OF ARTS DIRECTOR IN SERVANT LEADERSHIP AT VITERBO UNIVERSITY
Tuesday, October 10, 2017 - Joe Kiedinger
Hello Servant Leaders! We’d like to invite you to join us on November 15th for our FREE Servant Leaders of Wisconsin (S.L.O.W.) Event in De Pere, Wisconsin.
You’ll see Tom Thibodeau, Professor of Servant Leadership and Master of Arts Director in Servant Leadership at Viterbo University, discuss his insights about teaching Servant Leadership during his presentation, Celebrate the Good Stuff.
I had a conversation with Tom to learn more about his history with Servant Leadership and what you can expect at this S.L.O.W. event.
Q: How did you get involved in Servant Leadership?
A: It was part of my family background growing up. I also read Robert Greenleaf’s book, Servant Leadership, in 1974 and it changed my life.
Q: You teach Servant Leadership to college students every day. Have you witnessed any “a ha” moments where the concept just clicked with someone?
A: I think the most gratifying thing is seeing the changes my students make personally. They have begun schools, written grants, brought Servant Leadership to other organizations, and have changed cultures.
Q: How can productivity in the workplace be impacted by Servant Leadership?
A: Today, good people are looking for good leaders. Employers can attract talented associates by practicing Servant Leadership. Servant Leadership was originally coined Applied Ethics and was the study of goodness. It’s meaningful, ethical, and practical. It’s not self-serving, but quite the opposite. It’s about developing the gifts of other people. It can be a long process, but a worthwhile one.
Q: What is one concept you’d like attendees to take away after hearing your presentation?
A: In the workplace, the practice of Servant Leadership brings a sense of purpose and engagement. It’s all about what is right, good, and just. It’s something people will really respond to and it’s practical because you’ll see the results.
We hope you’ll join us. RSVP here!
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