How can servant leadership build trust and loyalty in your team?

1 What is servant leadership?

Servant leadership is based on the idea that the leader's role is to serve the people he or she leads, rather than to command or control them. The term was coined by Robert K. Greenleaf in his 1970 essay, The Servant as Leader, where he defined it as follows: "The servant-leader is servant first… It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead." Servant leadership is not a specific set of behaviors or techniques, but rather a mindset and a philosophy that guides the leader's actions and decisions.

2 Why is servant leadership important?

Servant leadership is important because it can bring about positive outcomes for both the leader and the team. The benefits of servant leadership include building trust and loyalty, fostering collaboration and innovation, and developing leaders. When you serve your team members, you show them that you care about their well-being, growth, and success. This creates a strong bond of trust and loyalty between you and your team. Additionally, you empower them to share their ideas, opinions, and feedback while encouraging them to work together. This creates a culture of collaboration and innovation, where your team can leverage their unique talents and perspectives. Furthermore, you inspire them to follow your example and serve others while supporting them to develop their skills. This creates a pipeline of leaders who can take on more responsibilities and challenges.

3 How can you practice servant leadership?

Servant leadership is not something that can be achieved overnight, but rather something that needs to be practiced and improved over time. To practice servant leadership in your team and organization, you need to listen actively to your team members, understand what they mean, feel, and need. You also need to empathize with them, show compassion, respect, and appreciation for their emotions, experiences, and values. Additionally, you should serve willingly by putting their needs above your own and helping them reach their full potential. As a leader, you should also act ethically with integrity, honesty, and responsibility. Finally, it is important to continuously grow by seeking feedback, learning new skills, and encouraging your team members to do the same.

4 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?