9 Key Principles of Servant Leadership

Leading With Purpose: Understanding Servant Leadership

Servant leadership is a transformative leadership philosophy that emphasizes the well-being and growth of individuals and teams, aiming to empower them to reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to organizational success. Rooted in humility, empathy, and a deep commitment to serving others, servant leadership goes beyond traditional notions of leadership and focuses on nurturing strong relationships and fostering a positive work environment.

The concept of servant leadership was first coined by Robert K. Greenleaf in his 1970 essay "The Servant as Leader." Greenleaf spent most of his career working for AT&T and developed the servant leadership philosophy later in life based on his observations while working in the corporate world. In his essay, Greenleaf argued that the best leaders strive to serve others first as their true priority. They focus on their followers' development instead of ego-driven leaders who seek status or power over others.

As we've probably all seen, organizations and companies that are striving to be more people-centric are constantly striving to hire and develop leaders that exhibit servant leadership. Servant leadership is simple in concept: The servant leader's mindset centers around listening attentively to their team members, empathizing with their concerns, and providing support to address their needs. In practice, however, putting away our egos in favor of others success and leading with empathy is incredibly difficult to do and becomes a lifelong journey.

9 Principles of Servant Leadership

Here are the 9 traits found in great servant leaders:

1. Empathy - They strive to see things from team members' perspectives and identify how to help them thrive.
2. Listening - Servant leaders prioritize listening to understand employees' needs and empower them.
3. Awareness - Self-awareness to reflect on their own behaviors and recognize their limitations.
4. Persuasion - Guiding through inspiration and logical persuasion, not authority or power.
5. Conceptualization - Thinking big picture to envision the group's potential and find innovative solutions.
6. Foresight - Anticipating obstacles and changes on the horizon to proactively adapt.
7. Commitment to growth - Developing employees through mentorship, skills training, and opportunities.
8. Community focus - Promoting connection and collaboration to foster a sense of belonging.
9. Ethical behavior - Leading by example with integrity, honesty and consideration of the greater good.

At the end of the day, the servant leader prioritizes the needs and interests of others above their own. By serving first, helping teammates fulfill their potential, servant leaders unlock immense loyalty, engagement and shared success. Just as the true master of a craft knows they can always get better, the true servant leader never "achieves" servant leadership. It is an ongoing journey that you hope to achieve every day.

Growing as a Servant Leader

To be an effective servant leader, self-awareness and a willingness to learn and grow are essential. Servant leaders continuously reflect on their own behaviors and seek feedback from others to identify areas for improvement. They also actively seek opportunities to build empathy, deepening their understanding of the needs and aspirations of their team members. Looking to get better at this skill?

To improve your servant leadership:

• Develop empathy through deep listening. Ask questions to understand employees' goals and challenges.
• Work on emotional intelligence. Learn to manage your own emotions first before leading others.
• Focus on inclusive decision making. Get input from all stakeholders before deciding.
• Improve self-awareness. Continuously self-reflect on your behaviors and their impact on others.
• Cultivate humility. Be willing to admit when you're wrong. Value others' strengths and learn from them.
• Shift mindsets from commanding to supporting. Provide resources and encouragement vs demands.
• Create opportunities for employee growth. Coach, mentor and train others to elevate their skills.
• Recognize achievements. Praise contributions and progress to motivate and engage teams.
• Encourage open communication. Welcome all voices, feedback and ideas without judgement.
• Develop persuasive skills. Influence through inspiration vs authority. Help others buy into the vision.

Reflecting on Servant Leadership

While servant leadership has proven to be highly effective in many organizations, it is not without its challenges. Some leaders may struggle to strike a balance between serving others and meeting organizational goals. Additionally, not all organizational cultures may be receptive to the servant leadership approach, requiring a gradual shift in mindset and practices. Through your journey, continue to value relationships and help others grow. That type of leadership can not only lead to long term business success, but can help you achieve what you want to in a way that may better align to your values.

Some thoughts to reflect on:

1. Do you genuinely listen to understand your team members' perspectives and needs? Or do you sometimes let your own agenda or assumptions dominate?
2. Do team members seem fully empowered to bring new ideas to you transparently? If not, what is limiting that psychological safety and trust, and how can you address it?
3. Are you receptive to critical feedback from your team without getting defensive? Do your reactions discourage open communication?
4. Could you be more focused on publicly recognizing your team's achievements rather than taking credit yourself? How do you share praise?

Go forth and lead!

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