Why Servant Leadership Is So Important?
The nature of leadership in today's fast-moving business environment is changing drastically. Gone is the traditional approach, where decisions are made at the top and executed down below, giving way to this all-important, inclusive kind of servant leadership approach. This is not a fad but more of a deeper insight into what really constitutes organizational success in today's world.
What Is Servant Leadership?
Servant leadership is a philosophy whereby the priority of the leading personnel is to serve others. This stands in contrast to traditional leadership, whereby the major concern of the leading personnel is the success of the organization or company. A servant leader shares power, prioritizes the needs of others, and facilitates the development and performance of people at a high level.
The term was coined by Robert K. Greenleaf as far back as 1970 in his essay entitled "The Servant as Leader" when he said that the best leadership is the kind that concerns serving others more than commanding them. Since then, the concept has gained considerable momentum especially in organizations where long-term success is pursued, rather than immediate gains.
The Impact Of Servant Leadership Upon Organizational Culture
Perhaps the most influencing aspect that servant leadership can bring forth is changing the culture of an organization. When leaders begin to look at themselves as leaders through a servant-first mentality, this sets quite an example to employees at all levels. This approach creates trust, respect, and collaboration, strong ingredients for a positive organizational culture.
Working in such a culture, the employees will appreciate it and can get involved in the work. They will consider their leaders as partners who help them in attaining success instead of being distant figures ordering them to perform tasks. From here, mutual respect and a sense of shared purpose can result in higher levels of job satisfaction lower turnover rates, and at the end better performance.
Servant Leadership And Employee Development
Other than this, another critical aspect of servant leadership is that it focuses on the growth and development of employees. Servant leaders believe in the personal and professional development of their team members by knowing full well that where the employees grow, the organization grows right with them.
This can be on many spectrums, from providing ongoing training and development to just encouraging employees to reach beyond their grasp for new challenges and responsibilities. By investing in their people, servant leaders create a more resourceful, nimble, and resilient workforce-incremental to today's rapid-moving business environment.
Improved Decision Making And Innovation
The same leadership model also inspires organizational decision-making and innovation in many organizations. By embedding in them a culture of open communication and the sharing of ideas, servant leaders ensure diversity in perspective during the making of decisions. This therefore leads to improved and more informed decisions being made with increased innovative solutions.
When people feel they can be heard and valued, they want to contribute and take ownership of how decisions are made. Accordingly, it improves decision quality, ignites innovation, and empowers people by encouraging them to think with creativity and innovation, taking calculated risks.
Long-Term Gains From Servant Leadership
While servant leadership may cost much in terms of time and effort when compared to traditional forms, the fruits last long and always outweigh the costs. Indeed, through embracing servant leadership, organizations are more capable of building strong and loyal teams, encouraging innovation, and realizing success in a sustainable manner.
Servant leadership can even be used as a differentiator in the marketplace. Companies that have a high degree of recognition for their approach to servant leadership can improve stakeholder relationships with both customers and partners.
Contact LEAP For Effective Leadership Coaching Solutions
Servant leadership is not an act of a single step in management but a commitment to prioritizing the people and ensuring the environment within which everybody operates offers an enabling ground for growth. For as long as business environments continue to change, the need for servant leadership will continue to increase. Call LEAP Coaching at (847) 212-4903 to discuss Servant Leadership and our powerful Leadership Communication Coaching solutions.
Is it your commitment to be a better servant leader in your business?