- Leadership Development
Servant Leadership: Transforming Teams and Organizations
- The Resources Group, Inc.
Workplace trends are shifting, and leadership styles are among them. Servant leadership in particular continues to grow as a powerful and transformative approach. Originally coined by Robert K. Greenleaf in the 1970s, servant leadership flips the traditional power dynamic on its head, prioritizing the needs of employees and empowering them to achieve their full potential. Leaders can create more engaged, motivated, and productive teams by focusing on serving their people, instead of defaulting to it being the other way around.
What is Servant Leadership?
Servant leadership is a philosophy where the primary goal of the leader is… you guessed it… to serve. A servant leadership style contrasts with the traditional image of leaders issuing top-down directives, “command and control.” This isn’t to say that servant leaders aren’t concerned with the bottom line or that they don’t make hard decisions, but rather they prioritize and balance the growth and well-being of their employees with the understanding that supported and engaged teams will bring about the same end; and will even achieve goals more effectively and efficiently.
Key Principles of Servant Leadership
Support & Community Building
A leader who actively listens to their employees and strives to understand their feelings, thoughts, and experiences builds trust and, overall, a positive work environment. Servant leaders also focus on the holistic well-being of their employees, understanding that there’s more going on for everyone than just what’s seen at work. They help to mend relationships, provide support during difficult times, and foster a sense of community and belonging.
Investing in the personal and professional growth of employees is key to servant leadership. This includes providing opportunities for learning, development, and career advancement.
Creating a sense of community within the organization is essential. Servant leaders foster a culture of collaboration, support, and mutual respect.
Awareness
Self and situational awareness are crucial for servant leaders. They need to understand their own strengths and weaknesses and the dynamics within their teams and act accordingly.
Influence
Instead of using authority, servant leaders rely on influence to guide their teams. They seek to build consensus and encourage buy-in from stakeholders.
Conceptualization & Foresight
Servant leaders can envision the big picture and think beyond daily operations. They are strategic thinkers who can balance short-term goals with long-term objectives. Learning from past experiences, understanding current realities, and anticipating future consequences are key traits of a servant leader. They make decisions that are beneficial in the long run.
Stewardship
Servant leaders take responsibility for their role in the organization and are committed to acting as caretakers of their company’s resources and people.
10 Servant Leadership Characteristics – by Larry C. Spears
- Listening – a commitment to listening intently to others, coupled with periods of reflection.
- Empathy – an effort to understand, empathize with, and accept others.
- Healing – a focus on helping others overcome emotional wounds and aid in a search for wholeness.
- Awareness – general awareness and self-awareness, which contribute to an understanding of issues related to power, ethics, and values.
- Persuasion – in contrast to authoritarian leadership, a reliance on convincing others based on the merit of arguments rather than on coercion or manipulation.
- Conceptualization – an ability to think beyond day-to-day realities and dream big.
- Foresight – efforts to “understand lessons from the past, the realities of the present, and the likely consequence of a decision for the future.”
- Stewardship – behaving with the understanding that one has been entrusted with running the organization for the greater good of society.
- Commitment to the growth of people – the belief “that people have an intrinsic value beyond their intangible contributions as workers” leads to a strong commitment to “the growth of each individual.”
- Building community – a desire to create true community within the organization and other institutions.
Benefits of Servant Leadership
Servant leadership lays the foundation for a positive work environment with important organizational benefits. This leadership style results in engaged employees who feel valued and respected, high retention rates, and a safe place for idea exchange leading to more innovation.
Implementing Servant Leadership in Your Organization
Maybe you’re already practicing servant leadership – that’s great! But, if you’re still new to this or are looking to learn more, try implementing some of the methods below into your approach:
- Lead by Example
- Demonstrate empathy, humility, and a commitment to serving others in your daily interactions. Make sure you “walk the walk.”
- Promote Collaboration
- Foster an environment where employees feel safe to share their thoughts, ideas, and concerns. Active listening and open dialogue are key so start there by asking your team members how they’re (really) doing–and listen. Create opportunities for teamwork and collaboration. Encourage a culture of mutual support and collective problem-solving.
- Invest in Employee Development
- Provide opportunities for continuous learning and growth. Ask your employees about their career aspirations and personal development goals and then support them and provide opportunities for achievement.
- Build Strong Relationships
- Take the time to get to know your employees on a personal level. Build trust and rapport by showing genuine interest and care in what they have going on outside of work and what is impacting them.
- Empower Your Team and Celebrate Successes
- Delegate authority, empower your teams, and encourage autonomy. Trust your employees to make decisions and take ownership of their work—you’ve hired smart people, empower them! To be clear, this doesn’t mean you should just hand it over and walk away, rather set the goal and have periodic check-ins. Trust them to do the work and play your part as coach, cheerleader, and obstacle-remover. Recognize and celebrate the achievements of your team when things go well.
Conclusion
Servant leadership prioritizes the well-being and growth of others. By embracing these principles, organizations can create a more engaged, motivated, and productive workforce. Working with servant leaders, employees have a greater sense of support and overall well-being—and at a time when mental health issues are on the rise, a leader focused on their team’s well-being can make a significant difference. As the business world continues to evolve, the need for compassionate and service-oriented leaders has truly never been greater!
I have been on a servant leadership journey for years and see the positive and profound impact it has not only in myself, but my organization and in our client organizations as well. It is a personal leadership development journey and a change in mindset for many who may have learned and lived more traditional leadership styles.
To learn more, here are some resources that our team members really resonate with to choose from and check out:
Books
“The Servant: A Simple Story About the True Essence of Leadership” by James C. Hunter: This book provides a compelling narrative that illustrates the principles of servant leadership.
“Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness” by Robert K. Greenleaf: The seminal work that introduced the concept of servant leadership.
“The Leader’s Journey: Accepting the Call to Personal and Congregational Transformation” by Jim Herrington, R. Robert Creech, and Trisha Taylor: This book explores the inner journey of becoming a servant leader.
“The Serving Leader: Five Powerful Actions to Transform Your Team, Business, and Community” by Kenneth R. Jennings and John Stahl-Wert: A practical guide on applying servant leadership principles.
Articles
Forbes: “The Hidden Pitfalls of Servant Leadership,” by Renita Kalhorn.
Harvard Business Review: Articles like “To Lead Better, Listen More” and “Why You Should Be a Servant Leader” provide insights into the application of servant leadership in modern organizations.
Center for Creative Leadership: Articles and whitepapers on servant leadership and its impact on organizational performance.
Online Courses and Webinars
Coursera: Offers courses such as “Servant Leadership: The Deciding Difference” by the University of Illinois.
LinkedIn Learning: Courses like “Servant Leadership” by Dr. Jeffrey L. Magee provide practical advice and strategies.
Udemy: Various courses on leadership that cover aspects of servant leadership.
Organizations and Associations
The Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership: Offers a wealth of resources including articles, books, and training programs focused on servant leadership.
International Institute for Management Development (IMD): Provides articles, case studies, and executive education programs on leadership, including servant leadership.
Podcasts and Videos
The Servant Leadership Podcast: Features interviews with leaders who practice servant leadership.
TED Talks: Talks such as Simon Sinek’s “Why Good Leaders Make You Feel Safe” explore themes related to servant leadership.
Research Papers and Journals
Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies: Publishes research on leadership, including servant leadership.
Leadership Quarterly: Academic journal with research articles on various aspects of leadership.
