Servant Leadership: How to Be the Best Leader for Your Team

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Those who demonstrate servant leadership prioritize the needs of team members before their own needs. In other words, they serve the team first and lead later.

“True leadership is servanthood. Put the interests of others at the center of your decisions.” — Dave Ramsey

Characteristics of a Servant Leader

“Servant Leadership is a non-traditional leadership philosophy, embedded in a set of behaviors and practices that place the primary emphasis on the well-being of those being served.” – Robert K. Greenleaf, The Essay, The Servant as Leader.

Let’s review some of the most important qualities of an effective servant leader.

servant leadership coworkers taking a coffee break
Photo by August de Richelieu on Pexels.com

Servant Leadership Requires Listening and Empathy

Beyond listening, servant leaders show genuine care and concern for the well-being of their team members.

Servant Leadership Requires Self-Awareness

Servant leaders are humble and do not let their position of authority get to their heads.

Servant Leaders Demonstrate Vision and Communicate Well

This helps align the team towards a shared purpose.

Servant Leadership Includes a Commitment to Growth

Servant Leaders Cultivate a Feeling of Community on their Teams

They nurture and support team members, creating a “healing environment”, and investing in the personal and professional development of their staff.

Instead of relying on authority, servant leaders seek to persuade and influence others through collaboration and consensus building.

Servant leaders consider themselves as stewards of the team and the organization, taking responsibility for the well-being of their team and the resources entrusted to them.

Purchase Your Own Books and Resources Related to Servant Leadership

How Servant Leadership Drives Success

For example, servant leaders focus on building strong, meaningful relationships with their team members.

Other benefits of servant leadership include:

  • When team members feel valued and supported by their leader, they are more motivated and engaged. This leads to increased productivity and better performance as a team.
  • Servant leaders play a key role in shaping the organizational culture. Their focus on serving others, cultivating trust, and fostering a sense of community leads to a positive work environment. Team members feel supported, appreciated, and valued. This positive work culture boosts morale, reduces turnover, and increases overall job satisfaction.
  • Servant leadership encourages open communication between team members and the leader. This leads to better understanding of expectations and goals, and ultimately better outcomes.
  • When team members feel supported, valued, and empowered by their leader, they are more likely to be motivated and committed. Servant leaders create a sense of trust and respect within the team, which leads to higher levels of engagement and dedication.
  • Since servant leaders are committed to the growth and development of their team members, they provide mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for learning and skill development. Servant leaders help individuals reach their full potential and achieve their goals. This not only benefits the individual but also contributes to the overall success of the team.
  • By empowering their team members to take risks, share ideas, and think outside the box, servant leaders foster a culture of continuous learning and growth. This openness to new ideas and perspectives can lead to innovative solutions and strategies.

Read The Seven Pillars of Servant Leadership: Practicing the Wisdom of Leading by Serving.

How to Be an Effective Servant Leader

By adopting a servant leadership style, leaders can create a positive work environment where team members feel valued, productive, and engaged.

Embracing servant leadership can lead to lasting and meaningful impacts that drive success and fulfillment within the team and beyond.

Thank you as always for reading.

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