The Essence of Servant Leadership

What does Servant Leadership mean anyway?

In 1970, Robert Greenleaf coined the term ‘servant leadership’ to emphasize his belief that effective leaders serve their followers towards success. He believed that great leaders develop great employees.

John Maxwell says “The only way to create great relationships and results is through servant leadership. It’s all about putting other people first.”

Servant leadership is the opposite of self-serving leadership. The latter involves designing the work flow to serve your own preferences, kowtowing to the desires of your supervisor and the higher-ups, and ensuring you are in the good graces of other influential people in the organization. If those you are trying to satisfy put their power above the organization’s mission and goals, having a culture that retains high performing employees and serving the needs of customers isn’t their priority. In these circumstances the organization’s bottom line may be at risk. 

However, servant leadership creates a healthy culture where people feel they matter, they enjoy coming to work. They produce quality products and provide helpful customer service. To fulfill the company’s mission and goals, both employees and leaders have to be flexible to respond to the needs of those around them. Then they achieve positive results, feel valued, and enjoy being part of a successful workplace.

Today’s Great Resignation reality is causing angst for many organizations and their leaders. They can’t afford to have 55% of their staff leave. Yet, this risk is real as 55% of the workforce plan to voluntarily look for another job this year.  Employees care about their pay, but once their basic living costs are covered most care even more about being respected and valued at work, doing work that matters to the community and its people, and having the training and support to do their job well. When they aren’t experiencing these non-monetary benefits at work, their job satisfaction and life satisfaction are low and emotionally destructive. They either stay for the pay check but are lethargic and mediocre performers at best, or they leave for another opportunity.

What steps can you take to start being a servant leader who serves the organization’s and the employees’ interests? Try following Ken Blanchard’s One Minute Message 3-part formula: 

• Set clear goals and communicate them.
• Catch people doing something right and praise them.
• Redirect your employees kindly when you see them underperforming.

Best wishes along the servant leadership path. Let your people know what you expect, praise them when they meet expectations, and kindly help them improve when they underperform. Serving your employees so they can achieve organizational goals serves them, the organization, and you as well.