Here's how you can acquire Servant Leadership skills and knowledge when changing careers.

To acquire Servant Leadership skills during a career change, one can follow these steps: 1. Educate Yourself through reading books, exploring online resources, and enrolling in courses. 2. Seek Mentorship by finding professionals embodying these principles and joining relevant networks. 3. Apply Theory to Practice by volunteering or integrating principles in current roles. 4. Attend Workshops and Conferences focusing on Servant Leadership. 5. Reflect and Assess Progress by self-reflection and seeking feedback. 6. Practice Empathy and Humility by developing these qualities. 7. Continuously Learn and Adapt by staying updated and being open to change in leadership style. These intentional steps can help in developing Servant Leadership skills

This is the most important change. It is typical for individual contributors to see the leader as an authority figure, and to think that 'authority' or 'knowledge' puts that person in that position -- so, when they themselves are moved into a position where they are expected to be leaders, they fail to see how to actually generate that value they are used to see. Leadership is about 'being there for others'. It's about taking interest, listening, embracing the team's perspective and the organization goals helping bridge them. It is by being helpful that you acquire your 'authority', it's because people know you can help them think about, find and achieve their goals that they trust and listen to you. It's by serving that you lead.

I sought mentorship from seasoned leaders and engaged in community service, which provided practical experiences that honed my ability to lead with empathy, encourage collaboration, and serve others’ needs before my own.”

Leadership is not defined by hierarchy, but by taking responsibility and exemplary behavior. Every manager should see himself as an owner of a role in the company. This is just as important, but not more important, than any other role in the company. Part of the role is to make decisions. These must be well-founded and transparent. It's not part of the role to be able to do everything and know everything – that's exactly why you have other employees with the appropriate knowledge and skills.

Emotion is one of the most important dimensions of work. All other things being equal, a person having a great day can generate impact on revenue, retention or even brand value at a disproportionate way compared to other ways we sometimes try to improve that impact. Most people when they are problem-solving at work are oblivious to the emotional dimension; the good leader can't afford to be. They need to see their own emotions well and use them wisely, and they also need to reach out to other people's emotions in an honest, thoughtful and purposeful manner. Leaders can only function properly if they connect with others -- and this requires honest, balanced, purposeful emotional exchange

It is important that you see other people. They are not exchangable, they are all of a special and certain value - everybody is unique and has his own valuable feelings and thinkings. Do not ignore anybody and give everybody a voice. Ensure that employees feel to be part of the team.

For me, empowerment means above all trusting employees. Trust in their independence, skills and ability to work in a team. Trust is an incredible, empowering motivation. At the same time, this leadership behavior also reflects the strength of the supervisor – who is confident that he has put the right employee in the right position. Trust is appreciation – and an employee who feels valued is not only efficient because motivated, but he will also seek the advice of his supervisor at the right moment, which he experiences as strong and exemplary. Nothing has to be proven to each other, but a project/company has to be brought to success together. Thus, the calculation works out perfectly for everyone involved.

Growth thrives on feedback. Connect with established Servant Leaders in your new field through online communities or professional networking events. Seek informational interviews to understand their experiences and solicit feedback on your leadership approach. This allows you to identify areas for improvement, gain valuable insights from seasoned leaders, and build a network of support as you navigate your career change.

Change the perspective, do not hide in your management offices but step into production, learning by doing. Reading books and joining workshops may be nice, but real world experience is much more valuable. Try to find out how you would like to be led by competent leadeship team. Try to understand the challenges of the people who you lead or are going to lead. Get in touch with people that are much younger and/or older, find out about people who have different skills, color, gender, religion...

Your network is a powerful tool. Connect with individuals who embody Servant Leadership qualities at industry events or online forums. Engage in meaningful conversations, share your goals, and learn from their experiences. Building a network of like-minded individuals provides a support system as you develop your skills, offers opportunities for collaboration, and may even lead to new career opportunities that align with your Servant Leadership aspirations.

Implementing servant leadership principles in smaller projects allows for practical application and refinement of skills in a controlled environment. This hands-on experience is invaluable for learning. I led a small project team using servant leadership principles, focusing on empowering team members, providing resources, and fostering a collaborative environment. This approach resulted in higher team satisfaction and successful project completion, reinforcing the effectiveness of servant leadership. Implementing servant leadership principles in small projects demonstrates your practical application of theoretical knowledge and commitment to empowering others, building your credibility as a servant leader.

Maybe there are some success stories resulting from a single exordinary idea - but I am convinced that most success stories result from team spirit that somebody started with a seed and encouraged a team to pick it up and let it grow.