Servant Leadership - What does it really look like?

Servant Leadership – it sounds nice; it resounds as a mighty platitude of epic proportions. However, living it out in the workplace, your neighborhood, your church, or anywhere else is quite a challenge.

WHAT DOES SERVANT LEADERSHIP LOOK LIKE?

That’s just it; it doesn’t look like anything else. It isn’t leadership focused on money, power and control. It is leadership focused on people first and helping them with their best interests in mind.

I read an article written in 1970 by Robert K. Greenleaf about servant leadership. In this article, he makes it sound like the concept of servants as leaders is a new idea, but this notion that has been passed on for generations. Moses demonstrated servant leadership as he led the Israelites out of Egypt. Servant leadership was also perfectly demonstrated and commanded by Jesus as he walked the earth with his disciples over 2000 years ago.

Even if the idea is not new, I would say that servant leadership is just as revolutionary today as it was 2000 and 3500 years ago. Why?

SERVANT LEADERS...

• Have in mind the good of all the people, not just themselves or the stockholders.

• Demonstrate sincere care for those they lead. 

• Act with humility and possess a quiet confidence.

• Are not afraid of someone they lead taking the spotlight from them.  

• Have goals and personal interests, but they do not act on those goals and interests if they are not in the best interests of all involved.

• Do not act with selfish ambition or vain conceit.

• Are honest.

• Love their people unconditionally, even when they disappoint and hurt the leader. 

Servant leaders are not pushovers. They do not let others take advantage of them. Instead, out of love, they direct them back to the right path. Servant leaders recognize and appreciate differences in people and their opinions, and they cherish those differences for the good of all.
 
Servant leaders do not lie, cheat or steal. They do not manipulate systems in their favor. Servant leaders surround themselves with mentors and coaches to hold them accountable for their behavior to make sure they do not get off track.
 

THE ADVANTAGES OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP

Servant leadership changes lives and affects entire companies of people. Companies led by servant leaders transform culture. Servant leaders live at peace with themselves and are esteemed by many. They are a threat to the normal power structures of our society because they don’t crave power, but live as a servant.

So… are you a servant leader?

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!

5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace

Ever wonder why management techniques that work with one person do not work for another? Have you struggled to connect with your employees or your coworkers? Do you find yourself asking, “How do I let my people know how much I appreciate them?”

If you’re reading this, then you know that managing people is not easy. In fact, friendships aren’t easy. We all struggle with relating to certain types of people. Sometimes it just seems to work easily. Sometimes it doesn’t seem to work at all. What’s the solution? How can we make sure that we are communicating effectively with those we work with, hang out with, and live with?

I recently read Gary Chapman’s book The Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace. You hardly hear leadership experts or management experts tell you that you need to learn to love your people. I believe the number one solution for making your workplace the most awesome place to go to work each and every day, is to let your people know that you love and appreciate them each and every day.

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In his book. Mr. Chapman expresses that there are five ways that people receive appreciation, or I call it love, from their leaders, supervisors and managers. They are:

1. Words of Affirmation

2. Acts of Service

3. Gifts

4. Quality Time

5. Appropriate Physical Touch

In the next five blog posts, I plan to delve into how each one of these five languages of appreciation can impact your employees and other relationships so strongly that you will see a remarkable difference in the attitudes and actions of your employees.

People need to know they are loved and appreciated. They need to know more than ever that those they work for really care about them. Take time today and look at your interactions with each one of the people that you work with. Pay attention to how they interact with people around them. Do you see a difference?

If you want to bring out the best in your people, and your friendships, in your relationships at home, you need to effectively communicate your love and appreciation to them.

Have a great week.

For more information, check out Gary Chapman’s website www.5lovelanguages.com or www.5languagesofappreciation.com.

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!