SERVANT LEADERSHIP Is a blend and balance between leader and servant. You don’t lose leadership qualities when becoming a servant leader to your people no matter what happens.
1. VALUES DIVERSE OPINIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS.
A servant leader values everyone’s contributions and regularly seeks out opinions. If you must parrot back the leader’s opinion, you are not in a servant-led organization to make things work effectively. Listening to your people’s contributions gives you a clear picture of what is really happening to them.
2. CULTIVATES A CULTURE OF TRUST.
Build a unique relationship with people, be confident in your dealings.
Believe and have faith in your plans because those behind you, accept your vision.
3. DEVELOP OTHER LEADERS/ VISIONAIRE.
The replication factor is very key. It means teaching others to lead, providing opportunities for growth and demonstrating by example. That means the leader is not always leading, but instead giving up power and deputizing others to lead in his/her presence or absence. As the say goes by Leadership by example may be exhibited in all things.
4. HELP OUT WITH LIFE ISSUES (NOT JUST WORK RELATED).
It’s important to offer opportunities to subordinates for personal development beyond the job. Let’s say you run a company program to lose weight, or lower personal debt. Having deeper conversations with clients will help you come out with the best solutions ever.
5. ENCOURAGEMENT
The hallmark of a servant leader is encouragement. And a true servant leader says, “Let’s go do it,” not, “You go do it alone.” We all do need these words to motivate us one way or other to keep pushing life hard.
6. SELLS INSTEAD NOT OF TELLS.
A servant leader is the opposite of a dictator. It’s a style all about persuading, not commanding and be selfless.
7. THINK “YOU,” NOT “ME.”
There’s a selfless quality about every servant leader. Someone who is thinking only for himself, “How does this benefit me?” is disqualified totally.
Be there for other’s at most times.
8. THINKS LONG – TERM.
A servant leader is thinking about the next generation, the next leader, the next opportunity. That means a trade off between what’s important today versus tomorrow, and making choices to benefit the future as well as the entire world.
9. ACT WITH HUMILITY/PASSION
The leader doesn’t wear a title as a way to show off who’s in charge, doesn’t think he’s better than everyone else, and acts in a way to care for others.
He / She may, in fact, pick up the trash or clean up a table. Setting an example of service, the servant leader understands that is not about the leader, but about others too.
10. SERVANT LEADERSHIP is easy for people with high self-esteem. Such people have no problem giving credit to others, they have no problem listening to other people for opinions and have no worry in building other people up in life.
Generally the very top people of truly great organizations are servant-leaders who are very submissive, respectful, selfless and hard working in everything they involve them selves.