interObservers
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Blog
    • All
    • Blog
    • Business Management
    • Business Software
    • Communication & Skills
    • Economics
    • Finance & Accounting
    • Leadership
    • Marketing & Sales
    • Strategy & Innovation
    • Theories
    cross selling vs upselling

    Cross-selling Vs Upselling (All you need to know)

    generating leads in real estate

    12 Proven Ways of Generating Leads in Real Estate (2022)

    exit interviews questions

    10 Exit Interviews Questions to Help You Retain Top Talent

    incentive theories

    Incentive Theories of Motivation: What Drives Human Behavior?

    consumer packaged goods stocks

    5 Best Consumer Packaged Goods Stocks to Invest In (2022)

    motivators at work

    10 Motivators at Work That Keep You Going

    transformational leadership example

    Transformational Leadership Example (5 Great examples)

    local online marketing

    7 Tips to Get Started With Local Online Marketing

    communicating upwards

    Communicating Upwards: Definition, Benefits, and Example

    barriers of communications (2)

    6 Barriers of Communications and How to Overcome Them

    goal of professional development

    14 Goal of Professional Development Examples

    market targeting examples

    8 Effective Market Targeting Examples

    manager vs supervisor

    Manager vs Supervisor: All You Need to Know About These Positions

    leadership skills for resume

    Top 14 Leadership Skills for Resume

    strength of a leader

    Strength of a Leader: 15 Leadership Strengths Leaders Must Have

    examples of niche markets

    Finding Un-Tapped Niches: 16 Examples of Niche Markets [2022]

    Trending Tags

    • marketing strategy
    • Communication
    • marketing
    • communication skills
    • leadership style
    • leadership roles
    • management styles
    • marketing myopia
    • swot analysis of nike
    • vbout reviews
    • social media management
    • best social media scheduling apps 2021
    • neuromarketing examples
    • Business Management
    • Marketing & Sales
    • Leadership
    • Strategy & Innovation
    • Communication & Skills
  • Business Software
    sms marketing platforms

    5 Best SMS Marketing Platforms for 2022

    Best Cash Apps for Business

    5 Best Cash Apps for Business [2022]

    QuickBook vs Xero

    QuickBook vs Xero: An All-in-one QuickBooks Online Comparison!

    Best Small Business Website Builder

    7 Best Small Business Website Builder for 2022

    Non profit Accounting Software Free

    Non profit Accounting Software Free Options: Top Picks 2022

    Best Software for Payroll

    7 Best Software for Payroll – An In-Depth Guide (2022)

    Best POS System for Small Business

    9 Best POS System for Small Business 2022

    accounting software for small business

    8 Best Accounting Software for Small Business

    Best Accounting CRM

    8 Best Accounting CRM to Streamline Your Business Processes

No Result
View All Result
interObservers
  • Home
  • Blog
    • All
    • Blog
    • Business Management
    • Business Software
    • Communication & Skills
    • Economics
    • Finance & Accounting
    • Leadership
    • Marketing & Sales
    • Strategy & Innovation
    • Theories
    cross selling vs upselling

    Cross-selling Vs Upselling (All you need to know)

    generating leads in real estate

    12 Proven Ways of Generating Leads in Real Estate (2022)

    exit interviews questions

    10 Exit Interviews Questions to Help You Retain Top Talent

    incentive theories

    Incentive Theories of Motivation: What Drives Human Behavior?

    consumer packaged goods stocks

    5 Best Consumer Packaged Goods Stocks to Invest In (2022)

    motivators at work

    10 Motivators at Work That Keep You Going

    transformational leadership example

    Transformational Leadership Example (5 Great examples)

    local online marketing

    7 Tips to Get Started With Local Online Marketing

    communicating upwards

    Communicating Upwards: Definition, Benefits, and Example

    barriers of communications (2)

    6 Barriers of Communications and How to Overcome Them

    goal of professional development

    14 Goal of Professional Development Examples

    market targeting examples

    8 Effective Market Targeting Examples

    manager vs supervisor

    Manager vs Supervisor: All You Need to Know About These Positions

    leadership skills for resume

    Top 14 Leadership Skills for Resume

    strength of a leader

    Strength of a Leader: 15 Leadership Strengths Leaders Must Have

    examples of niche markets

    Finding Un-Tapped Niches: 16 Examples of Niche Markets [2022]

    Trending Tags

    • marketing strategy
    • Communication
    • marketing
    • communication skills
    • leadership style
    • leadership roles
    • management styles
    • marketing myopia
    • swot analysis of nike
    • vbout reviews
    • social media management
    • best social media scheduling apps 2021
    • neuromarketing examples
    • Business Management
    • Marketing & Sales
    • Leadership
    • Strategy & Innovation
    • Communication & Skills
  • Business Software
    sms marketing platforms

    5 Best SMS Marketing Platforms for 2022

    Best Cash Apps for Business

    5 Best Cash Apps for Business [2022]

    QuickBook vs Xero

    QuickBook vs Xero: An All-in-one QuickBooks Online Comparison!

    Best Small Business Website Builder

    7 Best Small Business Website Builder for 2022

    Non profit Accounting Software Free

    Non profit Accounting Software Free Options: Top Picks 2022

    Best Software for Payroll

    7 Best Software for Payroll – An In-Depth Guide (2022)

    Best POS System for Small Business

    9 Best POS System for Small Business 2022

    accounting software for small business

    8 Best Accounting Software for Small Business

    Best Accounting CRM

    8 Best Accounting CRM to Streamline Your Business Processes

No Result
View All Result
interObservers
No Result
View All Result

What is Servant Leadership? (The magic behind role model)

by interObservers
in Leadership
Reading Time: 10 mins read
269 3
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linkedin
Rate this post

Disclosure: We sometimes use affiliate links in our content, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. This helps us offset the costs of paying our writing team and keeping this website running. Thanks for your support!


 

Leadership plays a vital role in any organization, and servant leadership is a specific type of leadership that places the needs of others before the needs of the leader. Servant leaders focus on developing other people and creating a mutual trust and respect culture.

What you will learn:

  • What is Servant Leadership?
  • Who coined servant leadership?
  • How does servant leadership work?
  • Four main principles of servant leadership
  • What is an example of servant leadership?
  • How to become a good servant leader?
  • Servant leadership vs. Traditional leadership
  • Advantages and Disadvantages of Servant leadership
  • Final Thought

They work to build relationships with team members and get to know them as individuals to help them reach their potential. While servant leadership can be challenging, it is also rewarding, and it can lead to better outcomes for both the individual team members and the organization as a whole.

In today’s complicated environment, leaders must assess their followers’ needs and help them reach their fullest potential. A servant leadership style is a form of affiliative leadership in which a leader uses their power to benefit those they lead.

Related: 16 Leadership Styles

Table of Contents show
1 What is Servant Leadership? (Let’s Dive Deep)
1.1 Who coined Servant Leadership?
1.2 How does Servant Leadership work?
2 Four main principles of Servant Leadership
2.1 1.) Seek first to understand, then be understood
2.2 2.) Act as a servant leader
2.3 3.) Demonstrate empathy
2.4 4.) Listen for the fullest meaning behind the words
2.5 What is an example of servant leadership?
2.6 What are the roles of a servant leader?
2.7 How to become a good servant leader?
2.8 Servant leadership vs. Traditional leadership
2.9 Advantages and Disadvantages of Servant leadership
3 Final Thoughts

What is Servant Leadership? (Let’s Dive Deep)

Servant Leadership

One of the most commonly used definitions of servant leadership comes from Robert K. Greenleaf’s article “The Servant as Leader” (1970). In this essay, Greenleaf defined a servant leader as one who had “the well being of those he is leading as his first consideration.”

Servant leaders are characterized by their low-ego, selfless approach to leadership. They are not power-hungry or egotistical individuals who want more control than everyone else. Instead, they want to ensure that their followers are successful and happy.

A servant leader can be someone in a formal leadership position, as an office manager. However, this is unnecessary; anyone can act as a servant leader. If you are leading even one other person, you have the opportunity to use a servant leadership style.

For example, parents can act as servants to their children by taking care of them and supporting them even if they disagree with their choices.

Simply, servant leadership is a management style in which you prioritize the needs of your team. It can be used in any organization or community to create an environment beneficial to everyone involved.

Related: What is Leadership

Who coined Servant Leadership?

The term “servant leadership” was coined by Robert K. Greenleaf in his essay, “The Servant as Leader.” He posits that influential leaders serve those they lead and work to empower them to develop and achieve as much as possible. Greenleaf, the creator of a servant leadership theory, named it because it is the opposite of most leaders.

How does Servant Leadership work?

According to Robert K Greenleaf in The Power of Servant Leadership, servant leadership works at two levels.

First, servant leader focuses on the needs of their employees at all costs. They ensure that everyone is being served and not just themselves. They also have a passion for their people to be successful. Second, they lead in critical ways by setting the strategic vision for the company and communicating it down to the team level.

They also provide clarity on the overall direction and company values, priorities, expectations, and limitations—this way, they give their employees the guidance they need to make good decisions.

Four main principles of Servant Leadership

Servant leadership principles

When you want to become a servant leader, you must understand what makes someone a good leader. The four main principles of servant leadership are: seek first to understand, then be understood; act as a servant leader; demonstrate empathy; and listen for the fullest meaning behind the words.

If you want to become a servant leader, you should remember that your goal is to serve others and work for their success. There are four main principles that successful servant leaders follow to be among future leaders.

1.) Seek first to understand, then be understood

Focus on understanding the needs and goals of those you lead before understanding. Your mission as a servant leader is to help others succeed. If you do not strive for this goal first above all else, then you will fail as a leader.

2.) Act as a servant leader

The key to acting as a servant leader is to take your focus off yourself and to put it on those you are leading instead. A servant leader is capable of making people feel better. They focus on emotional health and the feeling that everything will be alright.

Your only goal should be the success of others, not merely your advancement or personal achievement. As long as you work toward this goal, you will be a servant leader.

3.) Demonstrate empathy

Successful leaders are always empathetic since you cannot understand the needs and goals of those you lead without it. Therefore, you must put yourself in their shoes and try to know what they want out of life because this understanding helps you serve them better.

4.) Listen for the fullest meaning behind the words

This principle of servant leadership reflects that your job as a leader is to listen and understand fully, never questioning what you hear. Your actions will be more successful and beneficial when listening and understanding fully.

If you want to become a servant leader, your goal is to serve others and work for their success. First, you must make sure your language is clear and understandable.

Second, make sure to communicate with others before trying to understand yourself. Third, focus on the success of the people you are leading above all else, not merely your advancement or personal achievement. Finally, consistently demonstrate empathy because you cannot lead successfully without it.

What is an example of servant leadership?

Mary Ann Franks is a professor at the University of Miami School of Law. She has been described as an example of servant leadership because she has demonstrated dedication to the students in her class and her support on campus.

Franks’s actions have included speaking to incoming students about being positive, safe adults, mentoring female law students on navigating professional work environments, and serving on the International Women’s Association leadership board.

What are the roles of a servant leader?

  • Servant leaders serve their employees; this separates them from managers who manage people.
  • A leader must be genuine and care about others before caring about what they have to say or ask for in return.
  • The essence of servant leadership is putting the needs of your team members first, before your own needs, making sure that you understand their priorities, and showing an interest in helping them achieve their goals personally and professionally.
  • It means sharing power, allowing employees to contribute ideas that can help the company grow and make decisions whenever possible.
  • The servant-leader must lead through influence by demonstrating competence, helping people develop, and optimizing their performance.

How to become a good servant leader?

become a good servant leader

A leader is somebody who motivates their team members towards success. Of course, there are many definitions of what a leader is. Still, some common things can be seen in different types of leaders – one being that they have autonomy over their decisions, and another being that they drive others to work towards common goals.

However, different types of leadership styles have different ways of leading – some are autocratic; some maybe like transformational leadership, others democratic; and still, many try to be more of a Servant Leader who puts the needs of their team members before their own.

If you want to become a good servant leader, here are some characteristics of servant leadership that might help:

– Understanding the team you lead

One of the first things to do is understand your team. What are their needs? How well do they work together? How can they be best motivated towards working for common goals? It would be best if you took the time to get to know your team members and understand what motivates them, what demotivates them, and their goals and expectations.

– Understanding yourself

As a servant leader, you need to know yourself and understand your needs, motivations, and goals. Every team member can be a good servant leader – but for that to happen, you need to lead by example and make sure you meet your own needs.

If you are always available to listen to your team members, motivate them towards common goals, and make sure they get what they need – then you will be setting the example of how a good servant leader should behave.

– Listening

As a servant leader, you need strong listening skills. Let your team lead by making sure that their ideas are heard, their opinions are valued, and they feel like they can contribute to its success. If you listen to what your team has to say, if you value their ideas, if you motivate them towards common goals – then you are on your way to being a good servant leader.

– Empowering others

Sometimes a good servant leader must take over. For example, if you have a team member who has committed themselves to the goals and they are putting in more effort towards them than anyone else – then sometimes it might be necessary for you to take over.

However, even if that is the case – a good servant leader should empower their other team members to step up and contribute in the same way that one team member did.

– Being a role model

If you don’t want to become a tyrant leader, autocratic leader, or don’t want to let your team run all over you, your team members need to see that YOU are leading by example. You might be there as a good servant leader – but if your team sees that you are not practicing what you preach, they will soon lose respect for you.

– Taking care of yourself

It is probably the essential characteristic of becoming a good servant leader! If you do not take care of yourself, nobody else around you will be able to either. Therefore, it is vital as a servant leader to take care of yourself – make sure you get enough sleep, eat well, exercise regularly, and make time for friends and family.

– Taking responsibility

Good servant leader takes responsibility for their actions – even if they are not directly responsible. If a team member tells you that something is going wrong with a project, and you feel like it has nothing to do with you – make sure you take responsibility for getting to the bottom of the issue regardless.

– Being proactive

A good servant leader does not sit back and hope that things will change – they take action! If something needs doing (and it’s within your power), then do it. If you don’t, and something goes wrong – then it is your fault. It’s better to be proactive and try to prevent anything from going wrong in the first place!

– Taking care of other people

A good servant leader makes sure that everybody around them is doing okay. They ask about other people’s lives. They listen when other people speak. They congratulate others when appropriate, and they give advice where it’s needed.

– Being honest

A good servant leader will always be honest with their team – even if the truth makes them look bad in front of other people or themselves (especially if it makes them look bad). Telling somebody that they are wrong is not easy to do – but it is necessary when everybody else around them seems to agree.

– Being able to delegate

Sometimes you will not be in a position where you can take care of everything yourself – mainly if your team has grown in size. A good servant leader knows how to apply the proper pressure on the right people for the right amount of time.

– Being a good communicator

If your team members don’t know what they should be doing, and you don’t tell them – then there’s a problem. A good servant leader can communicate their ideas effectively, and they are strong enough leaders that people will follow them!

– Encouraging learning & self-improvement

A good servant leader knows that everybody around them has something to teach. So, if somebody comes up with a brilliant idea, or if somebody manages to do something better than you – then let them have their moment! After all, this is how we learn and grow as individuals.

– Being flexible

There are always multiple ways of doing things. It’s crucial for a good servant leader to realize that and to be able to adapt their leadership style when required. There’s no “one way” of achieving your goals – so being flexible is critical.

Servant leadership vs. Traditional leadership

Traditional leadership is when leaders are only in power because they are higher up on the hierarchy. They have more power than their employees and, therefore, make decisions that aren’t always in the employee’s best interest. The person in charge does not necessarily want to help others or help find solutions for employees.

Servant leadership is when the leader serves their employees. They are more interested in planning for the future of the business rather than caring about whether they are higher up on the ladder or not. Servant leaders help find solutions for problems, rather than blaming them on others, and also servant-leader shares power.

Related: What is Transactional Leadership?

Advantages and Disadvantages of Servant leadership

Advantages and Disadvantages of Servant leadership

The first advantage of this is that people will learn to serve and help others. Secondly, people will learn how to balance life and work. Thirdly, it’s an excellent relationship between followers and leaders, and lastly, servant leadership can create a better society.

One of the disadvantages is that some people might not understand serving as a leadership role or think it’s more like subordination. People might also believe that it’s not a proper leadership role because people will be doing activities together without them being the leader.

In conclusion, servant leaders must understand how to serve and do everything for their followers. It teaches about relationships between people and how they can succeed in life. To get started, one must have patience and wisdom to do servant leadership.

Final Thoughts

You might be wondering what servant leadership is and how it differs from other types of management.

It’s not easy to fully wrap your head around the idea at first. Still, suppose you think about it this way. In that case, servant leaders focus on developing other people rather than themselves, creating a culture of mutual trust and respect instead of one that centers on climbing hierarchies or power dynamics.

Servant leaders focus less on their own needs (even though they still have them) because there’s no point in leading others well if they can’t do anything for themselves.

Tags: advantages and disadvantages of servant leadershipadvantages and disadvantages of servant leadership (pdf)example of servant leadershipexample of servant leadership assessment instrumentexample of servant leadership in businessexample of servant leadership in educationexample of servant leadership in healthcareexample of servant leadership in nursingexample of servant leadership in schoolexample of servant leadership in the armyexample of servant leadership in the bibleexample of servant leadership in the philippineshow are servant leadership and followership the samehow can i be a better servant leaderhow does honor and protection guide servant leadership in the workplacehow does servant leadership differ from path-goal theoryhow does servant leadership impact an organizationhow does servant leadership workhow servant leadership become effectivehow servant leadership change organizationshow servant leadership workshow to apply servant leadership in the workplacehow to be an effective servant leaderhow to be servant leaderhow to become a better servant leaderhow to become a good servanthow to become a good servant leaderhow to become a servant leaderhow to become a true servant leaderhow to train servant leadershipprinciples of servant leadershipprinciples of servant leadership are being employed in the workplaceprinciples of servant leadership armyprinciples of servant leadership by robert greenleafprinciples of servant leadership by robert k. greenleafprinciples of servant leadership greenleafprinciples of servant leadership in nursingprinciples of servant leadership nstpprinciples of servant leadership pdfroles of a servant leaderservant leadershipservant leadership bookservant leadership characteristicsservant leadership definitionservant leadership examplesservant leadership principlesservant leadership styleservant leadership theoryservant leadership vs traditional leadershipthe four primary roles of a servant leader includethe functions of a servant leaderwhat are servant leadership skillswhat are the four main principles of servant leadershipwhat are the roles of servant leadershipwhat does servant leadership mean to youwhat is a true servant leaderwhat is an example of servant leadershipwhat is servant leadershipwhat is servant leadership armywhat is servant leadership in agilewhat is servant leadership in businesswhat is servant leadership in educationwhat is servant leadership in nursingwhat is servant leadership in the armywhat is servant leadership stylewhat is servant leadership theorywhat is the best example of servant leadershipwhat is the goal of servant leadershipwhat servant leadershipwhat servant leadership is notwhat servant leadership meanswhat servant leadership means to mewhat's servant leadershipwhich of the following is an example of servant leadershipwho coined servant leadershipwho coined the term servant leadershipwho coined the term servant leadership quizletwho created servant leaderwho was a servant leader
How to Create a Collaborative Envir...

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

How to Create a Collaborative Environment
Previous Post

16 Leadership Styles and How to Find Your Own

Next Post

What is Transactional Leadership? (let’s dive deeper into this style)

RelatedPosts

transformational leadership example

Transformational Leadership Example (5 Great examples)

Learn about examples of transformational leaders and how you can apply those lessons to your own company.

leadership skills for resume

Top 14 Leadership Skills for Resume

Landing a job in today's competitive market takes more than just hard skills. Make sure your resume showcases your leadership skills with this guide.

strength of a leader

Strength of a Leader: 15 Leadership Strengths Leaders Must Have

Discover the 15 leadership strengths that every successful leader possesses and learn how to develop them yourself.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Table of Contents show
What is Servant Leadership? (Let’s Dive Deep)
Four main principles of Servant Leadership
Final Thoughts

Recent News

cross selling vs upselling

Cross-selling Vs Upselling (All you need to know)

generating leads in real estate

12 Proven Ways of Generating Leads in Real Estate (2022)

Category

  • Blog
  • Business Management
  • Business Software
  • Communication & Skills
  • Economics
  • Finance & Accounting
  • Leadership
  • Marketing & Sales
  • Strategy & Innovation
  • Theories

Newsletter

About Us

interObservers is a blog that helps you succeed. We provide actionable tips, tools, and resources to help you start, run and grow your business.

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy and Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

© 2021 interObservers

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Blog
    • Business Management
    • Marketing & Sales
    • Leadership
    • Strategy & Innovation
    • Communication & Skills
  • Business Software

© 2021 interObservers

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
Sign In with Google
Sign In with Linked In
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Sign Up with Facebook
Sign Up with Google
Sign Up with Linked In
OR

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In