Leadership 201 - Servant Leadership

How would you define a Servant Leader??Some may see the two concepts juxta positional.?How can the leader be a servant? My philosophy of leadership is that leaders are there to serve their followers! Not everyone would agree!?When leaders serve the needs of their team members they enable growth, development, and success for the whole team.?Servant Leadership is less about authority, control, and personal interests of the leader.?Unfortunately, these aspects have been the typical legacy left by some leaders.

On the 6th of May 2023 Prince Charles was crowned the King of England.?This was my first experience of a coronation, so I was fascinated with the process and the spiritual significance of the ceremony.?The adornment of the regalia was especially interesting.

In the coronation, the regalia presented to King Charles III symbolise the powers of the King. In the ceremony these were presented by the Archbishop of Canterbury and included:

• Spurs - A symbol(s) of military honour and chivalry.
• The sword - The administration of justice to protect the church of God - not of might but of mercy.
• Armills (Braclets) - A Symbol of sincerity and wisdom, a token of??the Lord ‘s protection.
• Royal Robe - The Imperial mantle symbolising righteousness and a garment of salvation.
• The Orbe - To show that the Kingdoms of this world are under God.
• The Ring - A sign of the covenant between God, the King, and his Subjects.
• Glove - The wearer holds authority and grace trusting in the mercy of God.
• Scepta - Represents Kingly power and justice.
• The Rod - Representing equity and mercy - symbolic of a covenant and peace.

The most fascinating aspect among all the events, before and after the coronation, was King Charles’ promise of lifelong service, in the same way his mother Queen Elizabeth II had done. His commitment to being a ‘servant Leader’ is shown by what he does and is echoed in his insignia at the base of the tree of life, as seen in the embroidered anointing screen at the 2023 coronation.?A similar image is to be seen in the 2002 stained-glass window in St James Palace Chapel created for Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee.

Servant leaders seek to understand and address the needs of their team members while helping them reach their full potential. They create a supportive and collaborative environment through empathy, humility, selflessness, and a concern for others.?The servant leader concept was made popular by Robert K. Greenleaf in his essay “The servant as leader“which he wrote in 1970.?He proposed that servant leaders prioritize serving others and creating a sense of community within their organizations. The main objective of the servant leader is to facilitate the personal and professional development of their team members, leading to higher levels of employee satisfaction, engagement, and productivity.

Greenleaf created ten Servant leadership characteristics.?Here are the

five I find most relevant:

1. Listening
2. Empathy
3. Self-Awareness
4. Stewardship
5. Foresight

Servant leaders foster trust, engagement, and a positive organizational culture. As a result of this employees are motivated to high levels of performance.?

My challenge to you is this. If a King like Charles can strive to be a servant leader, why can’t you??Jesus Christ was also a servant leader!?The examples we have may be few; however, the role of these leaders show that everyone can also strive to be a servant leader.?What would the world look like if we all embraced Servant Leadership?