Creative Coaching

Why Servant Leaders Make the Best Leaders

These strong, thoughtful leadership skills are vital for organisational success.  We already know that the outdated command and control ways of leading are not effective for driving diverse workforces as they creates fear and diminish working relationships.  Conversely, servant leaders are adept at developing positive connections with those who follow them. Servant leaders share power and approach leadership in a way that seeks to inspire, motivate and empower. They prioritise the well-being and growth of their team so they feel valued and committed to accomplishing common goals. True leadership is built on selflessness, serving, sacrificing and seeking the best from those you lead.

Why servant leaders make the best leaders:

1. Servant Leaders Listen 

Servant leaders actively listen to others to ensure they fully comprehend what is being communicated. They welcome and encourage the ideas and opinions of others and empower others to act on their ideas. This fosters mutual respect, as it shows that the leader is ready and willing to grow alongside their team.  Servant leaders make a deliberate attempt to empathise with others.

2. They express appreciation    

People feel valued and supported when leaders demonstrate they have the best interests of their team at heart. This increases team motivation, productivity and the desire to work in collaboration towards the achievement of goals.  Valued team members build stronger relationships with customers and are dedicated to delivering the highest level of service.

3. They Build an Atmosphere of Trust  

An atmosphere of distrust usually forces teams into self-preservation mode and this leads to significant reductions in productivity and morale. A lack of trust within teams can stifle organisational growth and kill creativity. In modern, competitive business environments organisations who have successfully built trusting teams far outperform their rivals.

4. They Foster Teamwork  

A servant leader is not a focal point, they ensure that everyone is part of the process, and not just another company cog. Instead of using words like "I" and "My," a servant leader uses words such as, "our" and "us". Individuals who feel like an integral part of the team work harder toward a greater purpose and approach their work with more passion and drive. Servant leaders make it clear that they are interested in their team as people and not just what they contribute on a professional level. They encourage others to be the best they can be.

The road to developing servant leadership skills requires self-reflection, personal development and growth.  It’s not about changing others, it’s about changing and improving ourselves for the better. No special skills are required to serve, all you need is to lead from the heart.

If you’d like to know more please reach out to tania@twcreativecoaching.com.

Posted on Tue, August 21, 2018 in Leadership Personal Development
Leave a Comment below.