Servant Leadership: Leading By Example

With so many leadership strategies and concepts that have appeared over the last two decades, you may not know how to choose between what works in theory and what works in practice. “Servant leadership” is a fairly new leadership concept that has been gaining a lot of popularity in the world of management and leadership in recent years. In a world where people lead by their position and title, this leadership philosophy involves putting the needs of others ahead of one’s own desires and using your leadership skills to empower and serve others.

So what does it actually mean to be a servant leader, and how exactly might this benefit you and the company that you work for? To explain, the basic tenet of servant leadership is to lead by example, placing the needs of the group ahead of one’s own interests in the process. In its core form, this is achieved through thinking selflessly and understanding the concept of “We Over Me”. But don’t get the wrong idea: being a servant leader does not require you to be a doormat or to give up your own ambitions and goals.

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not a question of choosing between helping other people and pursuing your own ambitions; a true servant leader always remembers that in order to constantly take care of others, they must consistently take care of themselves. Instead, it’s about understanding that the two things work together hand-in-hand, and are not mutually exclusive of one another.  It’s about figuring out how to create a healthy equilibrium among the two priorities so that they complement, not compete with each other; it’s not or/but, it’s and/with.

So, what are the specific steps you need to do to become a leader who serves others? Changing your perspective and how you look at things is the first step. Instead of seeing yourself as the leader of the team because you are in the position of leadership, think of yourself as a steward of its successes. Not the one who is in charge, but the one with the opportunity to empower those in your charge. As a result of this reframing of your leadership perspective, you will feel more in control of the outcomes that people produce.

Ultimately, as a leader, it’s your responsibility to provide the members of your team with the necessary encouragement and guidance, tools, and resources they need to accomplish tasks and achieve results. To do so, you must have a comprehensive understanding of your team’s objectives, capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses. Make sure to invest some time in getting to know each individual member of the team along with their skillsets and interests. Then, work together to develop individualized plans for the professional development of every member of the group within the whole of the team’s goals.

The concept of servant leadership, however, goes well beyond any single set of actions or methods. Operating in this leadership principle requires you to have great dedication, not only to the mission of your organization but also to the members of the team that you work with. Every piece of the puzzle must come together to create the picture of exemplary servant leadership. It requires having a modest perspective of oneself, having empathy for other people, and being willing to put the requirements of team members and employees ahead of one’s own personal requirements. Servant leaders and not selfish, they are selfless.

In summary, servant leadership is a powerful and effective leadership principle for leading and managing teams because it places attention on helping others rather than on oneself. This is the key reason why servant leadership is so successful. When you put the requirements of your team ahead of anything else and set a good example for others to follow, you may foster a culture of trust, collaboration, and empowerment inside your firm. In the long run, this will result in success for everyone who is involved.

So are you ready to have a positive impact in your organization by assuming the role of a servant leader? If so, the choice is entirely up to you!