Effective leadership is not always defined by authority or hierarchy alone; it is also defined by impactful leaders who put others before themselves. This philosophy is called servant leadership – a leadership approach that prioritizes the growth, wellbeing, and success of the employees that they manage.
What is Servant Leadership?
Servant leadership is a holistic and people-centered approach where rather than the leader pursuing personal power or self-interest, they focus on serving others. This leadership style requires investment in personal relationships to build trust, loyalty, and long-term commitment. The objective behind this approach is when employees’ needs and wellbeing are prioritized, they are better equipped to achieve their goals and that success will flow upward and benefit the leader and the organization as a whole.
Core Principles of Servant Leadership
Leaders that use this leadership approach naturally have core principles that shape how they lead and interact with others.
| Ego check | Servant leaders recognize that leadership is not about personal recognition, but about helping others grow and succeed. |
| Empathy | They strive to understand the challenges, needs, and wellbeing of their team members. |
| Active Listening | Feedback, concerns, and ideas are actively heard and genuinely considered. |
| Stewardship | Considers themselves as caretakers to their team members and organization’s future. |
| Commitment to the growth of people | Invest in professional development, career growth, and continuous learning. |
| Building community | Promote collaboration, shared decision-making, and team unity. |
| Compassion | Acknowledge personal and professional struggles and approaches with compassion. |
| Awareness | A strong sense of emotional and situational awareness that guides thoughtful leadership decisions. |
| Persuasion | Influence through collaboration, trust, and mutual respect. |
| Conceptualization | Balance day-to-day operations with the ability to inspire long-term vision. |
Why does Servant Leadership Work?
Servant leaders believe that utilizing the core principles and the approach of putting others first will result in success flowing naturally. It is shown that when employees feel supported, respected, and encouraged to grow, there are positive outcomes. Key benefits of servant leadership include:
- Enhanced team collaboration
- Effective communication
- Higher employee satisfaction and engagement
- Increased innovation and problem-solving
- High employee engagement
These benefits also stem from a positive increase in behavior, attitude, and performance.
When an employee feels that their needs and wellbeing are prioritized, they become more engaged in their work. Engaged employees show more passion, commitment, and pride while doing their jobs, which will benefit the company. Servant leaders strengthen engagement within employees by recognizing their strengths, offering encouragement, and showing support.
Potential Challenges
No leadership style is flawless and even with all the advantages servant leadership offers, there are potential challenges to consider. The first is a heavy time commitment. Being able to listen attentively and offer support requires a lot of time and effort, pulling leaders away from their priorities. Next, there is a higher risk of dependency. With extra support and encouragement, team members may become reliant on the leader instead of developing autonomy. Another potential challenge is difficulty measuring success. Outcomes that come with this leadership style are centered around the wellbeing of others are often qualitative and subjective, making it hard to measure the success of the leadership style. Finally, resistance to change. When a leader introduces a new leadership style, there may be resistance from long-term employees who are more comfortable with previous leaders.
More Than a Leadership Style
Servant leadership can be defined by more than just its style, but by seeing it as a philosophy rooted in the belief that true company success is achieved by serving others. By utilizing this philosophy through fostering collaboration, enhancing communication, and investing in the employees, the full potential of all team members can be unlocked.