As you educate yourself on various effective management philosophies, you will encounter servant leadership. This philosophy is especially popular with young professionals as it aims to create a more caring and just business environment. It goes against the traditional model of leaders who focus entirely on achieving company goals, increasing profits, and creating a winning business strategy.
What Is Servant Leadership?
This philosophy was launched in 1970 by Robert Greenleaf and suggested leaders are more successful when they take a helpful servant attitude towards their employees, business partners and customers. Therefore, their motto is always to be a servant first.
What Is The Focus of Servant Leadership?
Leaders who follow this model focus on four key aspects.
1. Offering Employee Growth
These leaders help their employees grow and develop into the best versions of themselves. They mentor their staff and provide them with empowering opportunities to handle projects and responsibilities independently. This sets up a positive cycle of job performance and increased company revenue as empowered employees experience higher levels of job satisfaction and are more engaged in their work.
2. Creating a Sense of Community
One of the basic needs for all people is a sense of belonging. Servant leadership fulfills this by creating a workplace where teamwork is valued and encouraged. Bringing employees together to collaborate on projects builds real connections between the team members. It helps them feel that their contributions are valued and that their work has meaning. This sense of belonging keeps staff with your company instead of looking elsewhere for a job.
3. Encouraging Risk-Taking
The fear of punishment for making a mistake is eliminated in this business philosophy. Instead, risks are encouraged if they align with the company’s goals, mission, and core values. This boosts creative problem solving and increases productivity as employees seek ways to increase efficiency and improve customer service. When they are successful, company revenue increases as well.
4. Removing Obstacles
Servant leaders focus on analyzing what their employees need for job success. They are keen on removing the obstacles that keep their staff from doing their best work. For example, they provide training on new skills and coaching to close performance gaps. They partner with senior management to change processes that aren’t working and get needed resources or equipment.
Adopting a servant leadership style with your staff can help you create high-performing teams that naturally increase a company’s profit and customer service.
