The subversive power of servant leadership | Ian Fuhr | TEDxJohannesburg

Ian Fuhr’s life journey has been a series of entrepreneurial ventures, each started in new and unfamiliar industries. The most important lesson he has learnt, he says, is the power of servant leadership-the counter-intuitive idea that the purpose of work is not to make money, but rather, to serve. In this talk, delivered at TEDxJohannesburg 2015, Ian takes us on a hilarious tour of his ventures. He stops at key moments that mark important epiphanies. Each revelation demanding that he make choices that have elegantly combined into a leadership philosophy that could only have come out of the unique soup of socio-political conditions that is South Africa. That philosophy is a useful recipe for anyone who wants to succeed as a leader at a time when the world desperately needs to design for greater accountability, diversity, and creativity. In business and in society.
Ian Fuhr has a history of unexpected start-ups. Driven by the excitement of building new brands in unfamiliar industries, his modus operandi involves staking out an industry and then upsetting the status quo by challenging the prevailing wisdom. An unlikely CEO of the Sorbet chain of beauty salons, he believes in the subversive idea that in life and in business, service comes before self-interest. After nearly 40 years as a serial entrepreneur, Ian recently published Get That Feeling, a book that tells the story of his epic and maverick journey, so far.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@SDPHX]

More people in leadership positions need to listen to this talk about Servant Leadership. Far to many want staff to be their servants, and say the customer is the most important thing, but then do nothing to resolve the barriers that prevent their staff from serving their customers.

[@JonathanObise]

Servant Leadership contributes in no small way to answering the leadership question. Really good talk!

[@irisfynntherivergirl2197]

Wow wow wow!!! Who is this guy?? Where do you come from? So enlightened, so wise, so inspired. Blessed so much by this video! From today I will go to Sorbet for my beauty products because I want to serve someone with my Rands who wants to serve others with his Rands.

[@alexysann900]

Best explanation of being a servant leader by far!!! Thank you so much for helping see the path to growing into the leader I want to be .

[@reggaelvr68]

I truly appreciate this talk. Saddest reality is that a lot of higher ups miss this concept of servant leadership.

[@dhanashennaidoo6765]

Wow. Very inspiring and needed in South Africa. Serve the people who are serving the people!

[@EEG-ud8vl]

"Serve the people who are serving the people." 🎶what a wooonderful world it would beee🎶

[@helenesmeyer5883]

Great presentation,love the concept of servant leadership!

[@satendrarai1365]

This is awesome. I really enjoyed every bit of presentation. Thank you.

[@giftmtselu912]

Get the feelings, wow a great book and an awesome presentation. Hopefully one day i will meet him in person

[@angiegirgis7162]

truly inspiring...thank you for this

[@-BigVIK-]

i dont know why it has just a few views its realy an awesome concept

[@DTSilva]

This is how it works! This is how everything works!

[@alekseiyaresko976]

Thank you man, I'm inspired!

[@daniczec]

Entertaining and enlightening. Thank you!

[@daveagar5594]

Brilliantly said.

[@augustuskigotho2041]

This is mind opening and realistic. I have learned a lot.

[@anwaarshami8299]

I love the talk delivered very well by Ian. Very powerful to share personal experiences and the message that People matter.

[@johngibbs799]

It's about time!!! 😇

[@jean-jacquestapen1729]

Excellent!❤

[@airinemanwo481]

"Creating a conducive environment for people to motivate themselves" totally makes sense, most of the time, we see what we do as a job but we should rather take it as a privilege, Some values and good principles I learn in this talk. Continue to advocate for servant leadership Mr. Fuhr. Thanks

[@mondengcukana5184]

Wow!

[@shaunk6822]

Hmmm, 5 dislikes. That from salty managers I wonder? Excellent video!

[@AdrianCastro-fCMO]

Hi Ian Fuhr. I want to find out how iI can invite you to speaker at our networking event - Servant Leader Networking for Officers and Directors is an online event. It lets you discover in less than 90 minutes, how you can start deploying new online models for getting new members, avid sponsors and recurring revenue.

[@the_soughtout]

Wow. You don't go to work to make money.... but to serve . Wow