In this episode....
2:00 - Servant Leadership Starts With Getting Your Hands Dirty
10:33 - Developing Others is the Heartbeat of Lasting Leadership
17:52 - Let Leadership Come to You
30:48 - Think Generationally: Who Succeeds After You?
This week in The God Experiment, the conversation turns toward a theme that impacts everyone: leadership. Whether you’re leading a company, a family, or just setting the tone for those around you, servant leadership is a concept that transcends title and position. In this rich and reflective discussion, the hosts unpack biblical leadership through the lens of humility, legacy, and intentional growth.
The week kicks off with a reminder from Jesus’ example: leadership begins at the bottom. By washing his disciples’ feet, Jesus modeled that real leadership is about humility and service, not status. As the hosts discuss, even in corporate roles like COO, servant leadership is about presence, not position. “You can’t get so high that you’re unwilling to pick up the candy wrapper,” one says, emphasizing the importance of small acts that demonstrate care. It’s not always about doing the task yourself—it’s about staying connected to the team and showing you’re never above the work.
Leadership isn’t about control—it’s about development. One host shares how watching others succeed, especially those he’s helped mentor, is more fulfilling than personal achievement. “When they knock it out of the park, it’s almost more rewarding than doing it myself,” he reflects. From promoting emerging leaders internally to investing in structured leadership development pipelines, the episode emphasizes that raising others up is central to effective leadership. It's about legacy, not ego.
One of the most inspiring stories comes from the example of Gary Wit, a former CEO who joined a church and asked only to clean toilets and greet people. He served quietly until his leadership potential was invited to the surface. This illustrates a vital principle: don’t grab for leadership—let it come. “Serve first, and leadership will find you,” the host says. Ambition isn’t wrong, but character is what sustains leadership. A slow, humble rise often builds the strongest foundation.
The final insight focuses on succession and the importance of building for future generations. Two biblical figures—Moses and Hezekiah—are compared. Moses refuses to move without God’s presence for the people, while Hezekiah is content with peace only in his lifetime. This contrast reveals a leadership litmus test: Do you care more about the next generation than your own legacy? The episode closes with stories of multi-generational businesses, emphasizing the need to plan for continuity, invest in people, and avoid the pitfalls of short-term thinking.
Leadership isn’t a title—it’s an attitude. Whether you’re running a business, coaching a team, or mentoring one person, servant leadership calls us to think beyond ourselves, develop others, and build something that outlasts us.Leadership isn’t a title—it’s an attitude. Whether you’re running a business, coaching a team, or mentoring one person, servant leadership calls us to think beyond ourselves, develop others, and build something that outlasts us.
