Summary
Mr. Rogers was the epitome of a servant leader, focusing on the growth and development of his community and nation. He demonstrated many core qualities of a servant leader, such as listening, empathy, awareness, and stewardship, encouraging others to do the same to improve their respective communities, workplaces, or schools.
Forgiveness
Mr. Rogers greatly preached and emphasized forgiveness as a core trait for building strong relationships and communities. He knew that forgiving is hard, especially for those that are the closest, but it is a skill that allows people to cope and find meaning within.
Followership
Mister Rogers never shied away from discussing real-world issues and would draw comparisons between the actual world and his make-believe community throughout his show. He thought that television had the potential to create a nationwide community and inspire his followers, who greatly respected his views.
Authenticity
Acceptance, comprehension, and a belief and conduct system in which compassion reigns supreme. Fred Rogers, America’s most cherished neighbor, taught millions about empathy and morality by being himself and practicing these values.
Friendship
Mr. Rogers highly valued friendship, and the unlikely bond that formed between him and the journalist Lloyd Vogel, lasted for many years. The friendship had an impact on both, as they taught each other unique lessons, values, and perspectives that stemmed from their much different worlds.
Empowerment
Rogers wanted youngsters to realize that it is appropriate to have negative emotions, such as sadness or anger (Heller, 2019). However, how we deal with those sensations allows us to prevail. He made sure that every child watching the program understood that they had control over their actions and emotions, which was not typically preached to youngsters at the time.
Legacy
His program aired for 33 years, and millions of students across America were inspired by his capacity to be extraordinary in emotional healing, helping his followers develop and thrive, and providing value for the community.
Reflection
Being a servant leader is one of the main recognitions of Rogers. I fear that even in positions where I may achieve a position of leadership, I lack the humbleness to follow the path of servant leadership. I support the well-being of people, but I also strive to exercise power while servant leadership puts the needs of others first and the position of a servant foremost. For forgiveness, it is something I struggle with, not forgiving people that have hurt me but also keeping those feelings inside, which has a toxic effect. Mr. Rogers taught the importance of forgiveness as a vital life skill that few people truly ever master, but by doing so, they achieve a level of liberation.
Followership ties in with leadership, an aspect where I fear that I will not be respected or even worthy enough for people to follow me in whatever endeavor. However, our modern perspective of ‘followers’ based on social media has shifted significantly from the lifetime of Rogers, but those who listened to him and valued his lessons were the followers that are worth having.
One of my biggest fears is lacking authenticity, which is common in the current climate, defined by social media portrayal and popular opinion rather than being oneself. Rogers stayed true to himself, and I sometimes question my actions and if they truly represent me and what I stand for. Friendship is difficult to find nowadays, as many people lack authenticity; it is challenging to find true friends that will not abandon you at first signs of trouble and will stick with you even if your perspectives may disagree.
Empowering others is difficult, it takes more than cliché words, but wisdom and a true understanding of human nature and people’s challenges. When I seek to empower others, I attempt to use well-known phrases, but in reality, I should use my own experience and present my own authentic thoughts as Mr. Rogers did, which is what allowed him to make such an impact on young and older audiences alive. Finally, for legacy, I fear I will be leaving little behind, that no one will remember me. However, Fred Rogers lived his life probably not worrying about what he will leave behind but what he could do at the moment to help others, and by doing so, he created a legacy for himself in the hearts and minds of everyone he touched.
Reference
Heller, M. (Director). (2019). A beautiful day in the neighborhood [Film]. Sony Pictures Releasing.