There is a lot of talk about what it means to be a servant leader. Or in other words, how can a servant leader help to lead others more effectively and efficiently?
Servant leaders are those leaders who lead with a purpose. A servant leader builds influence and relationships with their team while at the same time having attributes such as empathy, listening, caring, and understanding. A servant leader is inspiring and also inspires the other members of their team.
A Servant Leader Leads With A Purposeful Vision
A servant leader has a vision, but not just any vision; they have a concept that has a purpose. A purposeful vision is a vision that can help and inspire others to do great things. People want to be part of something they feel is excellent.
For example, a servant leader maybe not be just building a travel company but is building a company to help inspire and make memories. A servant leader has a vision driven by something higher or more important than just themselves.
Servant Leaders Meet With A Purpose
A servant leader understands that the meeting is about getting something done or something accomplished. It is not just about having people get together in a room or online and waste their time so they can say that they’ve had a meeting.
As servant leaders believe in their team and their team members’ ability, they hold a meeting to help direct and inspire the team in what they need to do; they allow the team members and others to get on with doing what needs to be done.
This is different from a leader who may hold a meeting to say they had a meeting and check the box off. Somehow they feel like the meeting has been beneficial or has been good when nothing has been accomplished or decided.
A servant leader understands that to have a meeting, there should be a purpose and a reason, and the meeting should be something that inspires and directs and helps the team do their job.
A Servant Leader Builds Influence And Relationships
Servant leaders do not see themselves as just leaders; they understand that they need to build influence and relationships with all team members. Even the person who may bring their drink in the morning to someone who cleans the restrooms understands from the servant leader that every person is an essential part of the team.
Because servant leader seeks to build influence with every team member, they understand that it is essential to build power and relationships.
A Servant Leader Gives Support
Servant leader understands that one of the most important things they can do is give support to their team members. A servant leader will say things to the team like I am here for you; what can I do to help you? How do you need the help to accomplish what you need to accomplish?
That is because a servant leader understands that it is essential to give support and encouragement and to be able to help the other team members to accomplish the central vision and goals of the organization.
A Servant Leader Will Serve Others
At the very heart of Servant Leadership is that the Servant leader will serve others; the name servant is n servant leadership.
They understand that they are not here to boss around or push others to do things; instead, they realize they are here to serve. Servant leaders feel like they are there to help and serve their team; the team members feel that support from the servant leader.
A Servant Leader Leads With Their Heart
A Servant Leader is a leader who will lead with their heart; to lead with their nature means that a Servant Leader will not lead with the traditional “command and control” ways of teaching, but a servant leader will treat anyone they lead with respect and dignity.
Servant leader leads with their heart; they also take the time to build trust with those they lead.
A Servant Leader Puts The Team First
Servant Leaders will put the team first. In practical terms, they will not say, “you do what I say and nothing else,” but instead look at how to collaborate and what is vital to the team.
The beauty of this is that the servant leader will not just be the team leader but also a precious part of the team. Face it, without their team; there is very little that a servant leader could do independently.
A Servant Leader Listens To Others
A Servant Leader will listen to others. They understand that hearing other points of view can be very important to help the organization accomplish all of its goals.
Because the servant leader will listen as much as they talk, they will try to listen more than they try to speak or direct.
And listening to others, a servant leader understands that it is much better to pull people in to do the things that need to be done to help the organization than try to push them to do something that they don’t want to do. They understand the power of pulling or allowing people to come to them versus trying to push individuals to do things.
A Servant Leader Has Empathy
A Servant Leader has empathy. They understand that things can happen, such as a team member getting sick or a family member being ill. Someone may lose a child. Sometimes their team member is just having a bad day and struggling.
The Servant Leader has empathy because they understand we are all human. They have been there. They understand what it means to have a bad day. They have had their hardships and heartaches, and they can feel and understand when team members are hurting. A servant leader cares.
Servant Leaders Puts Growth Of People First
A Servant Leader understands that the growth of each member of their team is essential. So they are always looking for ways to train and bless the lives of those they work with.
Whether it’s setting up a training program, encouraging them to get more education, or just training them in meetings to help them understand things. A servant leader is not greedy but is willing to share their knowledge and understanding with others.
At the Brigham Young University Management Society, one of our focuses is on moral and ethical leadership. For moral and ethical leadership, we strive to help build servant leaders worldwide. We understand that organizations worldwide would all be better if there were more servant leaders in the world.
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