Servant Leadership

“A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.” – Lao Tzu

?Business leadership over the years has been seen from the hierarchy perspective. However, we are now in a transitionary phase, a digital-driven world where the concept of leadership has also evolved in a way that probably didn’t exist earlier. Typically, a business owner or the heir of the outgoing leader was by default considered to be the next in line. However, there is no automation in place for leadership, and it is no longer exclusive to the select few on the top of the pyramid. Leadership has now permeated the ranks and is now seen as a trait.

?According to Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, the future leaders are going to be those who empower others. In the modern landscape, being a good leader who gets work done, right boxes ticked and generates money for the organization, is not good enough. A leader’s true value is now judged by the number of people they groomed for the future leadership, or the people they empowered to pursue their dreams. Essentially, one has to be a servant leader.

?Servant Leadership

A servant leader is someone with hands-on ability and expertise, and committed to organizational values, work ethics. They have the willingness to listen, learn and implement from the inputs shared by all the people around and won’t be biased towards anything, but the quality of inputs, efforts and honesty towards the cause. People are known as servant leaders because they are ready to serve instead of simply directing others and hoping for the tasks to be done. A servant leader would be glad to lift people, empower them and channel them to serve others.

?“It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself. Serve and thou shall be served.” Ralph-Waldo Emerson

?When you are ready to get down to people’s level and serve, the performance will always see a spike. A servant leader doesn’t see leadership as a privilege but, as a mission to empower others and achieve organizational goals. An example can be seen in organizations which constantly groom future leaders. Such companies expand faster, better and longer compared to those who were hogging the power and hanging on to it.

?Here are four critical pillars on which Servant Leadership can be practiced and cultivated:

?Supporting difference of opinion and novel thoughts: Diversity is not just about gender, ethnicity, sexual, political or religious beliefs, but rather about the difference of thought and the ability to acknowledge and encourage it. There are bosses who would compel everyone to follow their diktat without a question, no matter how illogical and futile it might seem to others. And then there are people, who put the goal before the team, and let them suggest how it can be achieved. A servant leader would always listen to the team, analyse the inputs and create the path that is most likely to achieve the result.

?Building an environment of trust: In modern organizations, trust is a rarity, whereas it should be a necessity. Clarity of communication about the mission, company values, long-term vision and the roadmap for individual as well as collective growth is a sure-shot way to generate trust. When you are transparent about what you want, willing to give others the opportunity and support, and ready to listen to what they say, you will be trusted as a leader without asserting the leadership.

?Don’t be selfish: Everyone wants growth, but it is never personal or individual. If you think of achieving the goal without caring for the people who help you reach there, you might not go a long way. However, if you appreciate and reward the efforts put in by the team, you will be assured of consistent support and growth throughout your journey. Great leaders are never remembered by the revenue they generated, but by the number of people whose lives they touched positively.

?Create the next line of leaders: If you are a true servant leader who believes in sustainable growth then you would know how important it is to groom a line of succession. No generation of leaders can sustain the pace of growth, not even the most iconic ones. What is needed is to mentor the next generation that will take over your responsibilities whenever you decide to step down. Those who don’t create a worthy line of successors often end up seeing the business go down or things turn bitter.

?Coach, mentor and help people grow. Great servant leaders are transparent, honest, and ready to give back. They won’t be afraid to listen to someone point out an error and would be willing to adopt the best strategy to achieve the goals. This is how you can grow as a leader, a human being and also help your organization grow.?