Now More Than Ever, Servant Leadership Is Vital

Many of us have gained a fresh perspective as a result of all that has happened in the globe during the last 20 months. It has given us freedom to take things more slowly.

It has taught us the importance of compassion towards coworkers, neighbors, family members, and other individuals in our life. And it has shown that, now more than ever, leading with our emotions in order to care for one another is essential.

After all, we all have the same heartbeat. When we accept that truth, we will be able to discover ways to connect with others in ways that will nourish our souls.

Leading from my heart helps me to establish more meaningful interactions with clients and, importantly, my team. Everyone at my place of business is concerned about what each of us is carrying in our lives, and we all help one another in carrying those loads. We provide grace to one another, knowing that it will be returned in the future.

When it comes down to it, leading from your heart entails serving others.

Servant leadership's advantages

So, what exactly does servant leadership include (if you don't already know)?

"The servant-leader is servant first," stated Robert K. Greenleaf, creator of the servant leadership movement. It all starts with the innate desire to serve, to be the first to serve.

Then one makes a deliberate decision to desire to be a leader... The two extreme categories are the leader-first and the servant-first... The distinction is evident in the servant's first-class attention to ensuring that other people's most pressing needs are met.

The greatest (and most hardest) test is: Do those who are serviced grow as people? Do they get healthier, smarter, freer, more independent, and more willing to become servants as a result of being served?

What impact does this have on society's underprivileged? Will they profit or, at the very least, avoid future deprivation?”

One of the most important servant leadership concepts is to serve the needs of others. And although no one person's requirements are more essential than another's, each individual's needs are more vital than the needs of the whole company. Furthermore, a large part of servant leadership is seeing potential in others, helping them through obstacles, and then witnessing them shine in new ways.

Yes, companies want income in order to keep the lights on and pay their workers, but it does not necessitate ruthlessness in the workplace. Because it puts people first, the power of a servant leadership approach actually helps companies prosper. At our firm, it definitely works.

I watch employees go above and above because they consider our organization to be their home. They are motivated by what we do and feel valued.

I also have customers that return to us or think of us when they come across others who may be a good fit for our services. Things fall into place as they should when we lead with service – by behaving truthfully and being true to our hearts.

Principles of servant leadership

We can all be servant leaders in all aspects of our life (not just at work, though that is an excellent place to start). This strengthens our bonds with others and renews our sense of purpose. As a servant, leading with heart starts with the following characteristics:

1. Paying attention

The way we listen has a lot of power. It's a chance to make room for the person speaking, connect with our inner voice, and try to figure out what the person's mind, body, and soul are trying to say.

Each of our customers, for example, has a unique experience with us, whether it's writing a book or learning new ways to tell their story to the world. We pay attention to who they are and where they want to go. Then we devise a strategy for assisting them in accomplishing their objectives.

As a result, our staff is motivated to help customers that not only share our basic beliefs but also desire to make a difference in the world by helping others.

2. Empathy

Everyone deserves to be embraced and valued for their own personality. As a result, we should presume that the individuals in our life have good intentions and accept them for who they are at any given time.

We encourage a fresh knowledge inside ourselves by listening and empathizing. Because I open the door to notice such indications, I can generally tell when something isn't right or someone is suffering.

During the COVID-19 epidemic, this is very crucial. When we had customers that were suffering financially during the epidemic, we offered them our time so they could keep working on their projects.

And I often tell customers that I believe are intended to be a member of our company's family that we can work within their budget. We may have to move at a slower pace, but we will do all we can to assist them in achieving their objectives.

3. Creating a sense of belonging

Have you seen the film "Pay It Forward"? That type of rippling effect is created through servant leadership. When we intentionally care for, listen to, and encourage one another, we form new bonds.

With presents, we show our customers that we are thinking of them and love them in both happy and sad moments. Even a simple card or phone call with a loving message may touch someone's heart in those difficult times and demonstrate that they are surrounded by a caring community.

Internally, we do the same thing, celebrating happy times and supporting one another when we need it.

The hostility that so many of us have encountered over the last 20 months breaks my heart. We may develop relationships based on love and selflessness when we choose to lead from our hearts and embrace the power of servant leadership. It will benefit our companies — and, more importantly, our lives.

Thanks to Yolanda Knight at Business 2 Community whose reporting provided the original basis for this story.