It's called servant leadership and it's all about leaders who are dedicated to serving their team. That's why they call it "servant" leadership - pretty straightforward, right?
This type of leadership is also known as conscious or facilitative leadership and it's really interesting because it challenges most of what we traditionally think about leadership. Instead of a leader being at the top and directing their team, a servant leader focuses on serving their team and helping them achieve their goals. It's a unique approach that can really make a difference in a team's dynamics!
How does servant leadership work?
When you're a servant leader, your job isn't to do your employees' work for them - but it is to make sure they have everything they need to succeed. After all, their success is your success too! So what does that look like?
It means giving your team the power to make decisions, supporting their growth, looking out for their well-being, and even encouraging them to develop their own leadership skills. For instance, you'll spend a lot of your time figuring out how to create opportunities for your team to shine.
Got a new project coming up? You'll work with your team to figure out who can learn the most from taking it on. Need to budget for resources? You'll fight to make sure you have enough for things like people, software, and training to help your team excel. If there are any disagreements between your employees or between them and another team, you'll step in to protect your team and guide them towards a solution that works for everyone.
As a servant leader, you get to decide who makes the final decisions - you can either collaborate with your team or call the shots yourself, as long as it's in the best interests of your team. But to make this approach work, you'll need empathy, active listening skills, and strategic thinking. You'll need to know your team members inside and out - their strengths, weaknesses, and everything in between. And you'll need to be a fierce advocate for your employees.
Of course, things won't always go smoothly. When things go wrong, you'll need to hold your team accountable, but you'll also need to stand between your employees and any negative consequences beyond what's necessary for them to learn and grow. With your guidance, your team can achieve great things!
When is servant leadership the most effective?
Well, it tends to work best in organizations where leaders are mainly in charge of managing and guiding their team, rather than getting bogged down in their own individual tasks.
It's also important to have a team size that's not too big, but not too small either. You want to be able to get to know each person on your team pretty well, but you don't want to end up micromanaging just a couple of people.
And even if you're a one-person show with a lot of operational work, you can still make use of the servant leadership approach! It's all about putting your focus on serving others and making sure their needs are met, regardless of the size of your team.
Pros and cons of servant leadership
Pros: It can be a great way to help your team members grow and become their best selves. By putting their needs first and empowering them to take ownership of their work, you can create a positive environment where everyone thrives.
Cons: First off, servant leadership isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. It might work wonders in some situations, but in others, it could fall flat. Plus, there's the risk of being seen as a micromanager if you're constantly checking in and overseeing every little thing. And when it comes time to make tough decisions, you might find that your authority has been eroded by your focus on serving others.
Is servant leadership the right approach for you?
Well, honestly, it might not be beneficial unless you're in the right environment. But if you are, then it can be an awesome framework to work with!
Even if you don't have the perfect circumstances, you can still take some fantastic ideas from servant leaders. To make it work, you need to ensure that you have a few things in place:
Psychological safety is key. Your team needs to feel comfortable knowing that they won't be punished for making an honest mistake. This allows for trust and openness within your workplace.
Accountability is crucial for a supportive environment. You and your team need to take responsibility for your actions and outcomes to work cohesively.
Excellent communication is vital. Consistent daily communication and meaningful one-to-one meetings will help you stay informed and serve your team effectively.
When you have all of these elements in place, you're on the right track to becoming a successful servant leader.
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