Servant Leadership: It's not some hippie-participation-trophy-philosophy

This week I have gotten to spend some time discussing leadership with colleagues, people in academia and a few wonderful friends - all people who I respect a lot! ??

I am happy to learn that concepts like servant leadership and diversity of thought still seem to play an increasing role in general leadership philosophy and practice - but also feel there is a growing need to underline what these terms actually covers.

In my own interpretation servant leadership is - like any leadership really - all about creating results. It is not some hippie-participation-trophy-philosophy invented with an objective for people to have fun and feeling emotionally safe at work! No, it is about creating an environment that enables people to perform and deliver at their absolute best. An environment that enables growth and collaboration at accelerated speed.

It’s about delivering results!

The same goes for diversity and inclusion - when we as leaders are able to create a room where we are aware of our own biases, when we have diverse eyes working to solve problems across genders, nationality and backgrounds - well, we simply perform better and make better decisions. Diversity of thought being an aspiration however doesn’t mean that gender or ethnicity entitles one to a job - no, it is your capability, attitude and potential that will do that. Let’s not have any doubts here! Nor should we be confused about Inclusive leadership, which similarly doesn’t mean that any one opinion, feeling or thought necessarily should have the same weight or be treated equally. As a leader you have to be able to be inclusive while still setting clear direction and facilitating constructive dialogue - working with the rule of ‘disagree & commit’ is not in any way a contradiction to inclusive leadership.

I feel we sometimes misunderstand these concepts - that some leaders are caught in a paralysis. A fear of doing or saying the wrong thing and of offending others. We are all becoming so polite that we cant debate and push each other. It worries me, and in my book it is oh so misunderstood. We should listen to each other and respect each other - yes! We should care for each other, absolutely! But we should also speak straight to each other (in my book that is care too), demand performance of each other, and agree that when we come to work, we play hard - to win, to learn and to stretch our capabilities. To perform at the very best of our abilities. Business is sometimes a contact sport, and as leaders we cant be overly sensitive. We must have courage to have the tough discussion and to make the hard decisions. We need to have the bravery to speak (our) truth to power, and we have to be able to debate with and push the people around us. We should do it with love and care - always! But to perform, we can’t shy away from the uncomfortable.

As a leader, I do my best to support my team, consistently be there for them and to create an environment where we trust each other and have room to be ourselves. An environment where we can learn and grow together! Heck, I even want us to have fun together, because I believe laughter builds trust (and brightens anyone's day). But make no mistakes - as a team, we come to work to deliver. And I might be supportive, but I don’t think anyone ever said I wasn’t demanding ?? I am proud to be - I believe it makes us better individually and as a team! And that is at the end of the day, what leadership is all about! ??