Servant Leadership

It seems there are as many different leadership styles as there are leaders. That actually makes sense, as a strong leader looks at many different management and leadership styles to develop their own ways to be effective and successful at leading teams. One leadership style that has been influential for me is the concept of Servant Leadership.

Servant Leadership essentially takes the organization chart and flips it upside down. The idea is that each level of management in an organization exists to support those at the next lower organizational level. This goes against what many people think – that teams exist to support the manager. In order for the company to be successful, the work to get finished, and the final product or service to be delivered to the customer, it is obviously critically important that those doing the work are empowered to do their jobs, and they have all the tools and resources necessary to accomplish their tasks. As a manager within an organization, you have the power to acquire and provide these tools and necessary resources to your teams. Therefore, your strength as a manager and a leader relates to your ability to serve those who report directly to you. The role is to make sure that they have everything needed to accomplish their work. This involves making sure you are available to your team and receptive to their needs, clearing their paths to allow success.

While a large portion of the role of a manager or leader is to empower their staff, this isn’t to say this is their only role. As described in previous posts, of critical importance is focusing on continuous improvement in processes, organization, motivation, and morale. The manager is responsible for setting policies, initiatives, and direction for teams. The concept of servant leadership can be applied to all these areas and also provides a degree of humility when embraced by managers of all levels.