Developing 21st Century Glocal Servant Leadership

The first time that I became aware of the concept/practice of reverse mentoring was when I read the book by Earl Creps, “Reverse Mentoring – How Young Leaders Can Transform The Church And Why We Should Let Them”, in the fall of 2009 as a seminary student. This book is a Leadership Network Publication by Dr. Earl Creps who has served as a church pastor, ministries consultant, university professor, and church planter thanks in part to Ed Stetzer. Earl has a Ph.D. in communication from Northwestern University and a D. Min degree in leadership from AGTS. He is also the author of “Off-Road Disciplines.”

This is a great book to read for those in church leadership positions; those who are in or who are considering church planting. For those who do not consider themselves Christian but are interested in becoming a better leader, this book will still be of value to you and I would encourage you to read it. I will warn you ahead of time that if you are a control freak, suffer from poor or low self esteem and use your position or education in an attempt to cover this up; this concept of reverse mentoring will be a difficult one for you to implement successfully into your daily leadership or management style.

In many ways I am reminded of the concept taught in International Evangelism Association’s “Basic Christian Discipleship” material (Billy Beacham, 1982), that if we do not have a teachable spirit (a desire to learn), we are of little use to God or man. So it is with the concept of reverse mentoring. In Creps book “Reverse Mentoring”, Creps “Takes up the topic of how older ministry leaders can learn from younger peers (Christian and non-Christian alike) who are in closer touch with today’s culture, technology, and social climate. Throughout the book, Creps reveals the practical benefits of reverse mentoring and offers down-to-earth steps (through his experiences) for implementing it at the personal and the organizational level.”

In his book “Reverse Mentoring”, Creps “Offers a guide for leaders who want to experience personal formation by exercising the kind of humility that invites a younger person to become a tutor. The book invites older leaders to face uncomfortable truths—‘I am not cool’—in order for them to cultivate spiritual growth and ministry effectiveness. It also includes insight into the kind of spirituality from which reverse mentoring draws its strength and which distinguishes it from just another value-added business tactic. “

“Earl Creps details specific benefits of reverse mentoring in areas such as evangelism, communication, and leadership, clearly showing how to develop healthy reverse mentoring relationships that will garner positive results. “Reverse Mentoring” is a model for church leaders (secular as well) who understand the importance of learning from younger people to prevent functional obsolescence and to transform their leadership and mission,” (2008, inside cover flap).

Currently I am serving as an AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) tutor at Moyock Middle School in the Currituck, North Carolina school system. I (along with my fellow tutors) are in the classrooms on Monday-Thursday afternoons on a weekly basis, assisting in the 6-8th grade classrooms. Both classes have excellent and committed teachers, and great students making it an enjoyable experience.

However, I am not alone in these classrooms. One of my AVID tutorial partners is Amy who has recently graduated from Old Dominion University with her undergraduate degree in elementary teaching- K-6. Amy is currently working on her Master’s degree in teaching, subbing, working as a server, and God knows what else as well as being an AVID tutor. Amy is in her early twenties: attractive, intelligent, polite, poised, professional, industrious, and a delight to work with in the classroom. Thankfully, Amy is great in math and science, as I am so seriously not so, and so she makes up for my deficits or lack of strengths when we break down into groups and work with the students. I stay pretty much in the area of Social Studies, Science, and English, and try to do minimal math for the sake of the kids.

Several weeks ago, I asked Amy if she was the familiar with the concept of reverse mentoring. When she said she was not, I shared with her briefly about Earl Creps’ book and the concept behind it, asking her to feel free and serve as a reverse mentor with me in the AVID program. Amy is heading into teaching and is going to be more in tune with these students needs and can help me stay on target as an AVID tutor. My graduate work’s focus was on Leadership Education for the adult learner, and Amy is much more in tune with the age of these students and their needs. I trust Amy because she is mature beyond her years with a great classroom presence and there is much I can learn just by observing and listening to her, as well as giving her the freedom to tutor/mentor me.

Those of us who are “old dudes” or younger people cannot allow our egos to get in the way if we consider ourselves life-long learners. I want the Amy’s of this world, those students I tutor in class, or coach in sports to teach me things that I do not know that are relevant to their being and our world. It can only happen when we build relationships with them, empowering them with the freedom to mentor us even when it gets hard, tricky, uncomfortable, and yes, even embarrassing for them and us. However, isn’t this what being a life-long learner is all about? This is what true friendships and relationships are based on, the transparency and the ability to talk honestly and openly about everything. We have so much to learn from those who are younger than us and in return as Creps points out in his book; they in turn need the wisdom, insight, and maturity that only comes with age and having “been around the block a few times” as they liked to say “back in the day.”

Let me encourage you to read one of the most important books I have read over the past several years as a Christian leader, minister, pastor, student, and challenge you to consider incorporating reverse mentoring into your lifestyle until it becomes a part of your DNA. Much learning can take place; many benefits gained, and lives changed, when we allow our egos to be checked at the door. Isn’t this what servant leadership is all about anyway? Please share your thoughts and experiences on the subject of reverse mentoring.

Here is Amy’s response to this article:

“I like how you SPECIFICALLY refer to the book by Earl Creps. This is an effective way to draw a reader’s attention into this website, while having the reader want to learn more! I also like how you referred to me and our experience with AVID. It is very important to add life experiences, opinions, and scenarios. Yet again, the detailed observations, which have occurred (and continue to occur), help to portray your overall picture of “Developing 21st Century Glocal Servant Leadership.” Not only have you incorporated aspects of your work life (AVID) and social life (Church and work), but you have integrated them into an advanced system, with the use of technology. By using technology (your website/Internet), this allows people to be more involved in their own learning and leadership processes, which in turn is always in a high demand. Finally, I liked how you discussed our conversation about ‘Reverse Mentoring,’ since I did not know what it was. Therefore, by you explaining and expanding on our conversation, it put the reader in our shoes and feel as if they know what the author (you) is talking about and/or explaining.

I honestly, do not have one bad thing to say about “Developing 21st Century Glocal Servant Leadership” and cannot wait to see the final product. In today’s world, we need more positive, upbeat leadership attributes, especially when it is easily researched with technology (your website). Leadership is a quality, which is never ending and we can all learn new and endearing aspects for our life.” – Amy E. Schools, AVID Co-Worker, 2009-Currently