Local leaders talk about serving others
Orvis Campbell, Tuscarawas County sheriff; Carla Birney, Dover City School superintendent; and Larry Kaufman, lead pastor at Grace Church, talked about the value of providing leadership and a servant heart in their respective communities.
At The Symposium of Community Leaders event hosted by ProVia at Kent State Tuscarawas on Wednesday, Feb. 12, a trio of area leaders who have shown those skills talked about the role of servant leadership in their respective communities and what it takes to be a productive leader.
Guest interviewees included Orvis Campbell, Tuscarawas County sheriff; Carla Birney, Dover City School superintendent; and Larry Kaufman, lead pastor at Grace Church.
Led by interviewer Scott Lowe, the product and business manager for the metal roofing division of ProVia, the trio of panelists discussed what it takes to successfully navigate through some of the many workplace issues that can crop up.
One topic Lowe brought up was how good leaders check their egos at the door.
“There’s not a lot of rocket science to it," Campbell said. “No matter how much time you have on the job, you’re going to set yourself up for failure if you aren’t humble.”
Lowe then asked Kaufman how leaders in a materialistic world can become servant leaders rather than focusing on themselves. Kaufman said there is a need to move from being a consumer to a contributor. He said the Bible gives him instruction on how to best approach that concept.
Birney has been leading and educating youth for more than three decades. Lowe asked her what the biggest challenges are in today’s world in leading and caring for youth.
Birney said it takes a great commitment, and listening becomes a critical part of the process. She said educating the whole child by offering not just an education, but also the many facets of school that accompany that — such as clubs, fine arts, athletics and community service — all play a key role in developing well-rounded youth who are ready for the world when they grow into adulthood.
“Our job is to develop our children into adults who are hardworking and passionate about their work,” Birney said. “They contribute to society, and sometimes children find their passion in those extracurricular activities.”
Birney also is in a role that forces her to make some hard and sometimes unpopular decisions. She said doing so comes with a cost, but keeping in mind the greater good of the whole is what good leaders do.
“When I make a difficult decision, I’m not going to please everyone, but if I can put my head on the pillow at night and know that I have spent the time, I’ve listened and I have tried to make the best decision possible, then I feel like I can be at peace with that,” Birney said. “It is important to listen to as many people as possible and hear their voice. As a leader you need a clear vision and to be able to communicate that vision.”
Having served with the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office for 27 years, Campbell said the one thing he has witnessed over the years is how the importance of family has taken a backseat to collecting “things.”
Campbell said people need to put their kids first no matter what and that it is crucial to instill discipline and respect for those in authority, regardless of where that might take place. He said violence and drug use are always something people look at with today’s youth, but he said that is a direct result of a lack of communication, something that is valued in not just the family setting, but also in the workplace.
“It’s broken lines of communication and broken in mentorship,” Campbell said. “I think anyone in a community can make a big impact simply by taking a few moments for somebody.”
In the end all three panelists agreed people all want many of the same things: to be accepted and loved, to have opportunities to improve their lives, to have their voices heard, and to live a joyful life. Developing good leadership tools that can help a person navigate through life’s rough spots is critical to dealing with people face to face, whether it is in the family, at work, in a community or in a church setting.
“People want to be led, but they want to be loved first,” Kaufman said. “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. I have to model that as a leader.”
“We need to always care,” Birney said. “Life is hard, and for some people it is really hard. We need to listen to them and try to see things from their perspective without passing judgement or being critical of them.”
Despite not having the fame of the national speakers, the local voices heard at the symposium provided keen insight into ways to communicate and lead through a servant-based nature.
“I’ve been around a long time, and I’ve seen a lot,” Campbell said. “Like anyone else who has done their job a long time, if we don’t learn regularly and find something new, we probably aren’t going to be useful in a leadership role. This symposium has brought in some incredible national speakers, and it is an incredible event, but I never thought of speaking here. It is a real honor, and it is humbling to be a part of something this special.”
With all of the national speakers on hand, the symposium also gave a voice to local leaders who provided insight into becoming better leaders in everyday life.