What comes to mind when you hear the term Servant Leadership? That term is thrown about so freely these days, but I’m not sure whether everyone is aware of what it really means.
In the interest of establishing a better understanding of servant leadership, I’d like to review some relevant concepts as presented by Jeffrey Hayzlett in his article on Entrepreneur.com.
4 Principles of Servant Leadership
- Encourage diversity of thought. – Among the many traits encompassed by diversity is differences in thought. Give everyone a seat at the table. The inclusion of varied perspectives provides a more rounded and informed picture. This, in turn, fosters an environment that people want to be a part of.
- Create a culture of trust. – Clearly communicate to everyone in the company what the mission is, what values they are expected to live by, and the overall vision. Trust is one of the hardest things to regain once it’s broken.
- Have an unselfish mindset. – It isn’t, never was, and never will be, about you. Step back and take a good look – your team is greater than the sum of its parts. No one piece of the puzzle exists in a vacuum. Great leaders help facilitate the success of others. They make everyone feel of value and that their contributions matter to the overall success of the company.
- Foster leadership in others. – Leaders who understand the power of building a great team also understand it is crucial that leaders mold the next generation. Why? Because if they don’t, who will be left to take over the businesses in the changing of the guard when current leaders leave or retire?
Being a servant leader isn’t as simple as shouting encouragement from the sidelines. Nor is it just being the one in front saying, “follow me.” You’ve got to roll up your sleeves and participate, be among the many hands making the work light.
As you look at your own leadership skills, are you a servant leader? Learning to embrace these 4 principles and how to work with them will help you become a successful leader in business – and in life.