Living The Example In Leadership And Service, with Peter Schravemade (part 2), Ep #69

Any leader in any organization has to be mindful of the example they set. What you model will be a good example or a bad example for distinct groups of people: those you lead, those you serve, those with whom you are in a close relationship, and those who observe your life from a distance. This undeniable reality is an aspect of leadership that seems to fall off the radar for many senior leaders. Position and success somehow obscure the need for humble modeling and are sometimes replaced by a sense of entitlement or superiority.

Peter Schravemade is a leader who has not lost touch with the impact his example invariably has on others. Though he’s ultra-busy in his role at BoxBrownie.com, he strives to keep himself grounded, for the sake of his family, those he leads, and his own sanity. Join me for this delightful conversation with a guy whose responses are often deeper than the question he’s been asked. That’s a good thing.

Listen to learn how living the example in #leadership and service is the calling of every #leader. It’s a great conversation with Peter @Schravemade of @BoxBrownie_com. #TheDevelopmentExponent #development Click To Tweet

Should a leader’s personal life intersect with their professional life?

I’m always curious about how leaders see the relationship between personal and private life. Modern business etiquette often says the two should remain entirely separate, but if you’ve followed me for any length of time you’ll know that I couldn’t disagree more. I believe that who you are personally not only informs but amplifies who you are professionally if you allow the two to intersect in helpful ways.

Peter is a “what you see is what you get” sort of guy. His self-deprecating humor and humble attitude have earned the respect of those he leads and have advanced him to positions of influence and strategic growth on the BoxBrownie.com team. In this conversation, we discuss how his personal and professional life intersect and why it’s important for top decision-makers to make sure the two are connected.

Does the entirety of who you are hold up under the magnifying glass of a “What you see is what you get” perspective? As a leader, what can you do to nudge yourself a few steps close to it?

Modeling a servant attitude is more powerful than you may think

People naturally gravitate toward those who encourage and help them. That’s why leaders should be practiced at recognizing the abilities of those on their teams, encouraging and empowering those abilities, and providing opportunities for them to develop. There’s a name for this, it’s called servant leadership.

Peter says that the “service” part of what he does — as a leader and more broadly toward customers — is what keeps him going. He’s made a good point, there. It’s a huge motivation to know that both how you lead your team and how you provide services to customers is making a difference in their lives.

How are you doing on this front? Do the team members you lead know that you are in their corner and working to see them excel? If you’re not sure, why not ask them? You may find clear areas where you can improve your leadership that you didn’t know existed.

Modeling a #servant attitude in #leadership roles is more powerful than you may think. Peter @Schravemade of @BoxBrownie_com shares, on this episode of #TheDevelopmentExponent. #leader #development Click To Tweet

True leaders model a deep belief in their product or service

It’s been said that when you are convinced that the service or product you provide will benefit those who use it, you’re obligated to tell them about it. Leaders can learn something from that statement. Not only do you as a senior leader have broad experience from which those you lead can benefit, but you also have a perspective of the overall organization’s goals, direction, and impact on customers that can help them see the bigger picture of how your organization is making a difference in the lives of those you serve.

In his role at BoxBrownie.com, Peter has seen time and time again how the work they do fast-tracks the results their customers are seeking. It’s this clear benefit that he keeps in mind at all times. It motivates him each day and keeps him going as he travels across the world at a feverish pace (listen to this episode to hear an average week of insanity for Peter). His advice to those who don’t feel 100% in love with what they do in their organization is golden. It’s this…

If you find yourself unable to get entirely behind the product or service your organization provides, you probably need to find an organization that provides something you can get behind. You are not serving yourself, those you lead, or your organization well when you’re only bringing part of you to the task at hand.

Don’t miss this episode. Peter shares his experience as a leader and team member in an unforgettable style that provides value with every response. And if you didn’t hear the first part of this two-part conversation,you can find it here.

True #leaders model a deep belief in their product or service. If you can’t do that, you should move on. Sage advice from Peter @Schravemade of @BoxBrownie_com, on this episode of #TheDevelopmentExponent. #leader #development Click To Tweet

Outline of This Episode

[1:15] Peter’s background in the church and the benefits he experiences as a result
[3:40] Comparing professional life to personal life: what you see is what you get
[6:28] Why Peter’s work in the real estate industry matters to him and his customers
[11:50] The reason Peter keeps a crazy pace and varying business-travel lifestyle
[17:03] Three characteristics of achieving the kind of success Peter has experienced
[21:22] The one thing Peter would magically do for BoxBrownie if he could

Resources & People Mentioned

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