Rene Smit's speaking notes

1. Servant Leadership
22/11/10
Ladies and gentlemen,
• Thank you very much for this invitation
• Thanks to Elmer Mulder of VUmc as initiator
• Follow-up on conference Atlanta
• Interesting programme, now establishing is at stake
Serving Leadership
• Today’s world requires a new sort of leadership
• We face a financial, a moral and a climate crisis
• Morality is an important issue from my point of view
• Robert Greenleaf connected two phenomena that seemed
incompatible: ‘serving’ and ‘leadership’
• A delicate balance, we try to find at VU University as well
• Core values VU: open, responsible, on a human scale, go well with it
SL requires
• Listening, receiving and sending in balance
• Interest, openness, empathy
• Management by trust, not by fear
• Creating room for creativity, no fear making mistakes
• Empowerment, modesty, responsibility
• Disposal of ethical vision and courage
Some Challenges on Servant Leadership we face at VU University
Rules - exceptions
• Rule is a tool, not a goal on its own
• We should create ‘hyperculture’ in two ways:
• Local practice and global service on a higher scale
• Global level reaches higher level by diversity

2. Section - total organization
• SL should be and feel responsible for the whole organization
• Autonomy high: now towards more cooperation with other faculties
• To: new system of governance
Control - passion
• SL could use and evoke passion
• Creating ideal circumstances for excellence
• Empowerment
Specific - diffuse
• From: specific culture, starting with concrete point
• To: more diffuse culture, to build from the context
• Finding a balance between these two is a challenge
• More related with the world around us, is a need:
• New partnerships
• Zuidas, Community of Amsterdam, colleagues, companies
Long term – short term
• SL should balance between short term and durability
• Prioritize
• SL should solve this topic in a creative way
• No ‘tunnelvision’
On the agenda of VU University
• Strategic Plan (IP)
• Training Academic leadership
• Curriculum Tactical leadership
• Exchange with VUmc
• Identity (Werkgroep Identiteit) plays a part as well as VU-Connected
• I feel most grateful that SRLE has been established
• Hereby I declare SRLE open
Conclusion
At VU University we made quite some efforts over the last years.
Servant Leadership will be fruitful: internally, by creating the
conditions for excellence and creativity. Externally: we are and will
be more connected to the world, working motivated, in a safe,
inspiring environment. Less dependent from the State, more
international. In liberty and in responsibility.
René Smit