I am a servant leader, although it has been several years since I have been a Manager or a Supervisor. That is not a contradiction; the opposite is quite often true, that many managers and supervisors are not servant leaders, although servant leaders always make great leaders or supervisors.
I should likely explain what a servant leader is; however, I believe it is easier to explain what a servant leader does instead of just providing a simple definition. I would also like to demonstrate that someone can excel and help their organization and be a servant leader, even if they are not a manager or supervisor.
A servant leader …
Listens Actively – Whether a customer, client, supplier, coworker, manager, family member, friend, or complete stranger; Servant Leaders give people their full attention, they listen, consider, and only then do they respond. They make the person speaking feel important and valued in every single interaction.
Offers Help Proactively – These leaders pay attention, they listen, they see, they notice, and then step up and step in to help people they see who are overwhelmed or who need encouragement. Often nobody except the person who needs support even knows the leader is doing this, they do not draw attention to themselves nor do they draw attention, unless needed, to the person who feels anxious and stuck.
Mentors Peers – The best servant leaders share their knowledge, their advice, and their mistakes with those around them, particularly people who demonstrate potential, whether new to the team or long-time team members. They ask nothing in return, and when asked, often they will respond with, “I’m paying forward the help and advice someone shared with me when I was in your place.”
Celebrate Others’ Success – Servant leaders are the first people to congratulate team members when they achieve a goal, accomplish tasks, and they never try to take any of the recognition for themselves, even when they have played a large role in making the success possible.
Encourage and Motivate – Servant leaders are positive and supportive, even when situations look bleak, they are optimistic and for them “the glass is not only half full but can be refilled.” It doesn’t mean they don’t have bad days, but to them, other people are more important than they are. These people build organizations and create positive morale.
Are Approachable – These people are consistent, they make people feel welcome and included, and they always make you feel that you and your question are the most important things on their mind. They don’t make you wait; their “doors really are always open,” and they don’t multitask when you are with them.
Supports New Team Members – Quietly and almost without anyone noticing, servant leaders help new people feel welcome, at ease, and part of the team; they realize the first days and weeks for a new person are perhaps the most important times for determining if someone new is going to make it or not.
Share Credit – In fact, really good servant leaders never take credit for anything; all credit either goes to someone else or to the team. While often asked if they are worried their contribution won’t get acknowledged, they respond by downplaying that getting recognition for themselves is the last thing on their mind. It is important, but they “refill their own glass.”
Are collaborative and actively seek input and feedback – Servant leaders know they do not have a monopoly on good ideas and never want to be the smartest person in the room. They believe in making each person feel heard, involved, and valued; there is no such thing as a bad idea or a wrong opinion.
Defend Others – Servant Leaders are anti-bullies; they are not afraid to speak up when someone is being treated unfairly, they do not believe in innocent bystanders; they have also learned to avoid “win/lose” situations but will always do what is right.
Have Integrity – Servant Leaders do what they say and have high moral standards; they will do what is right even when it is unpopular.
Are Humble and self-deprecating – Servant leaders know they are not perfect; they are not saints and do not pretend to be. They know they are not better than anyone else, regardless of their skills and abilities.
Own their mistakes – Servant leaders never shift blame, and when they make a mistake, they own it, learn from it, and will share the lessons learned without fear of “looking bad” to their coworkers or subordinates, by being human they are more relatable to everyone else on the team.
Reliable – They are often the first one to show up and the last one to leave, they are among the first to volunteer, and everyone knows they will deliver their best effort every time without needing to be asked.
Stay Solution-Oriented – Servant leaders look at solutions, they work to anticipate problems, apply lessons learned, and don’t make excuses or “point fingers” of blame.
Are poised under stress – Servant leaders really earn their pay when “the wheels are falling off,” during stressful situations, they stay calm, poised, and make the right decisions and “get the job done,” while staying positive.
Respect and treat everyone with dignity – They are the types of people who make a conscious effort to say “Hello” to everyone in the morning, if they are having a bad day, few people will ever be able to tell, from the highest to the lowest person, they are “real.”
When asked, they will say what they think – Servant leaders believe in trust and will trust managers and supervisors who really want to know their opinions; however, this trust must constantly be earned and valued by those people in authority.
Inclusive – Servant leaders consciously make an effort to include everyone in discussions, in participation, and will even interject when one or more people dominate those events to ensure no one feels excluded.
Empathetic – One of the key elements of being a servant leader is the ability to try and understand things from other people’s perspectives.
Express Gratitude – Servant leaders say “thank you” sincerely, surprisingly often, and in combination with using people’s names. Expressing gratitude and appreciation is often the hallmark of great leaders.
Share Resources Freely – These people have a “multiplier” effect by creating ripples of contribution because they willingly help people work better, more efficiently, by constantly sharing tips, tools, and stories.
Volunteer for Tasks No One Wants – Servant leaders not only serve their teammates, they serve their organization and will always be among the first to do the difficult, boring, and least popular jobs.
Sees potential – As servant leaders purposely notice and participate with their teams, they often recognize and encourage underappreciated or underutilized people and encourage them to develop their skills and abilities.
Focus on shared team goals – Servant leaders feel individual achievement is important, but their primary focus is always on collective goals and success.
Are the Calm in the Storm – Perhaps their greatest ability is that servant leaders stay calm, approachable, and display leadership when others, including their managers and supervisors, are stressed.
Through examples of some of the abilities of servant leaders, I have defined what they are. Trust, consistency, and generosity are exercised through these attitudes, and it is worth noting, each one of these examples is something anyone can start doing today. The cost is time, consideration, and situational awareness. Being a servant leader is not an inherent ability; it is a group of learned skills that anyone can exercise and believe in, whether you have the title of manager or supervisor or are the newest hire in an organization.
Good luck,
Paul