What is Servant Leadership?
Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy that prioritizes the well-being and growth of employees and the community. The concept of servant leadership has gained traction in recent years as traditional leadership methods have come under scrutiny for focusing solely on the success of the organization, often at the expense of the people within it. Servant leadership is relevant for anyone in a leadership position who wants to create a positive and sustainable impact on their team or organization.
This article will explore the definition and history of servant leadership, characteristics of servant leaders, the benefits of implementing the philosophy, tips for developing as a servant leader, a comparison of servant leadership and traditional leadership styles, and a step-by-step guide on how to implement servant leadership in an organization.
Defining Servant Leadership
Servant leadership, as the name suggests, is a leadership style that prioritizes serving others. Servant leaders prioritize the growth and well-being of their employees and the community over their own personal gain or the success of the organization.
The concept of servant leadership was first introduced by Robert Greenleaf in his essay “The Servant as Leader” published in 1970. Greenleaf worked for AT&T, where he observed that the best leaders were those who put the needs of their team members first. The servant leadership idea has since taken on its own life and is a popular model of leadership today.
Examples of successful servant leaders include Herb Kelleher, the founder of Southwest Airlines, who focused on creating a culture of servant leadership in his organization and Hugh MacLeod, the CEO of retail chain Whole Foods, who believes in empowering his employees and giving them a sense of purpose.
Characteristics of Servant Leaders
Servant leaders prioritize empathy, listening skills, self-awareness, compassion, humility, and a willingness to collaborate over traditional leadership characteristics like decision-making abilities, charisma, and assertiveness. These characteristics allow servant leaders to develop meaningful relationships with their employees, resulting in improved communication, increased trust, and better outcomes.
For instance, a servant leader who prioritizes empathy makes an effort to understand their employees’ perspectives, challenges, and needs. This allows them to make informed decisions that prioritize the well-being of their employees over the success of the organization.
Real-world examples of successful servant leaders are John Mackey of Whole Foods who values transparency, collaboration, and ethical leadership. Similarly, Oprah Winfrey prioritizes empathy and compassion, which enables her to lead with generosity, kindness, and authenticity.
Benefits of Servant Leadership
Implementing a servant leadership model is known to bring numerous benefits to both employees and organizations. Servant leadership can lead to increased employee satisfaction levels, which can result in reduced turnover, better organizational culture, increased productivity, and better employee performance. Servant leaders prioritize the growth and well-being of their employees and are therefore more likely to develop and retain their teams’ top talent.
Organizations that have successfully implemented servant leadership as their leadership philosophy have a clear focus on empowerment, openness, and risk-taking. For instance, Costco prioritizes pay and benefits for their employees, leading to increased employee loyalty and a low turnover rate. Similarly, The Container Store has a strong emphasis on customer service, investing in employee training, and creating a positive work culture to create a sustainable business model.
Developing Your Skills as a Servant Leader
Developing the skills required to become a great servant leader takes time and effort. Following are some tips and techniques for developing as a servant leader:
- Self-reflection: Assessing your values, strengths, and weaknesses can help you understand what kind of leader you want to be and how you can achieve your goals.
- Emphasize self-awareness: Becoming self-aware helps you understand your impact and influence on others, creating opportunities for growth, and empowering your employees.
- Listening: Developing listening skills helps build mutual trust and understanding, making it easier to create meaningful relationships with your employees.
- Compassionate communication: Using compassionate communication can help improve relationships and facilitate successful conflict resolution.
Real-world examples of successful servant leaders who have developed their skills include Bill George, former CEO of Medtronic, who emphasizes self-reflection and self-awareness, and Howard Schultz, former CEO of Starbucks, who values compassion and empathy.
Servant Leadership vs. Traditional Leadership
Servant leadership differs from traditional leadership styles like autocratic, bureaucratic, and transformational. Traditional leaders often prioritize decision-making, authority, and structure, whereas servant leaders prioritize collaboration, empowerment, and communication.
Traditional leaders often build relationships with their employees through their authority and power, whereas servant leaders build relationships through trust and empathy, placing the well-being of their employees above the success of the organization.
Examples of successful traditional leaders include Steve Jobs, the former CEO of Apple, who was known for his visionary leadership and his focus on innovation, and Jack Welch, the former CEO of GE, who was famous for his assertive leadership style.
Implementing Servant Leadership in Your Organization
Introducing and implementing the principles of servant leadership in an organization can be challenging, as it requires buy-in from leadership and stakeholders.
The following are some strategies for implementing servant leadership in your organization:
- Create a shared vision that prioritizes the well-being of employees and the community.
- Lead by example and encourage employee empowerment, collaboration, and communication.
- Invest in employee development and training to encourage personal growth and self-awareness.
- Measure success through employee satisfaction, reduced turnover rates, and increased productivity.
Overcoming common challenges like resistance to change can be achieved by creating a culture of servant leadership from the top down and incorporating feedback from employees into decision-making processes.
Conclusion
Leadership that prioritizes the growth and well-being of employees and the community over personal gain and the success of the organization is the core of servant leadership. Servant leadership is a leadership style that can create a positive and sustainable impact on employees and organizations, leading to improved performance and increased employee satisfaction levels. Developing skills as a servant leader takes time and effort, but it results in benefits like enhanced relationship building, improved communication, and more meaningful interactions. By implementing the principles of servant leadership in organizations, we can create a more just and compassionate workplace.
