Team First. You Second. - Dr. Jim Collins

I’ve presented on the concept “Servanthood Leadership” for many years and it always seemed to be well-received by my audiences. The concept of meeting the needs of employees and staff before one’s own appeared to resonate with them. Once my presentations were over, I would connect with the crowd and ask how they felt about the message. The consensus was that being a servant to others is one of the greatest forms of leadership.

What is Servanthood Leadership?

In 1970, Robert K. Greenleaf coined the term “Servant Leadership” in his essay “The Servant Leader”. Of course, this idea is centuries old and there are numerous examples of selfless leaders who put their lives on the line for people as well as humanity as a whole.

Servanthood leadership is simple. You are the servant to others whose’ need comes before yours. In other words, it’s not about you. It’s about them. This type of leadership involves skills important to putting others’ needs above your own.

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Skills Involved in Servanthood Leadership

Larry C. Spears, former President of the Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership outlined 10 of the most important characteristics and skills involved in being a great servant leader.

Listening

This is the number 1 skill required by anyone who wishes to lead people in any industry or business. One must develop a deep commitment to listening to others and trying hard to understand exactly what they mean. It involves being mindful and fully present, taking notice of one’s body language, avoiding interrupting people when they speak, and providing appropriate feedback.

Empathy

No one wants sympathy in the business world. What they want is empathy, which means understanding where someone else is coming from. It means seeing the world through their eyes. They have perspectives that no one else may appreciate. But, if you serve others, you empathize deeply and genuinely.

Healing

Servant leaders want to heal other people by being there, supporting them physically and psychologically, and caring about their happiness and wellness. They wish to greatly influence the workplace and be a significant part of the culture that lives and breathes within an organization.

Self-Awareness

A great skill that servant leaders possess is the ability to practice emotional intelligence, which involves reading the temperature of others, the group and one’s self. It involves the ability to look into one’s self and understand one’s own emotions and behavior and how they affect others.

Persuasion

Real leaders persuade people. They do not use their titles or authority to move them to do what they wish. Their ideas and positive energy are what fuels their employees to feel empowered and work in inspired ways.

Conceptualization

Servant leaders instill dreaming into their people. Dream big, shoot for the stars and keep reaching high are their mottos. They look beyond today and envision a better tomorrow for their employees. They create mission and vision statements that stress hope and improvement. They’re not in it for the short-term but for the long haul.

Foresight

Servant leaders see today but they also have a keen sense of what tomorrow might look like. They learn good and sometimes hard lessons from their past to pave the way to the future. There are consequences to behavior and servant leaders know this well.

Stewardship

Taking care of what has been given to a leader is a top priority and a privilege. Servant leaders know that resources are precious and they must be used with great intelligence and intentionality. Stewardship means being accountable for what one has been afforded.

Growing People

The best leaders are those who train their replacements. They are unafraid to instill the information and skills required to take their place at any given time. They are committed to raising their people up above themselves. They want others to succeed and be the best they can be.

Developing Community

If there is no community, who shall one lead? This is why servant leaders care so much about building a group of people who share a vision and goals. They know where they are and where they want to be in the future. They develop the roadmap together, get in the vehicle and drive until they reach their destination.

Final Thoughts on Team First, You Second

While there are many leadership types and styles to be studied and emulated, one that may benefit today’s leader the most is servanthood leadership. It comes naturally for many people. Put others first and one’s self second. Think about them not you. What will they do in return? Try it and find out. You will be very pleasantly surprised.