10 Principles of SERVANT LEADERSHIP

Summary

In this video, Jonathan Sandling discusses the 10 principles of servant leadership, a concept introduced by Robert Greenleaf in 1970. The principles include listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of people, and building community. Sandling explains how servant leadership challenges traditional hierarchical models by placing leaders in a supportive role, emphasizing the importance of enriching individual lives and creating a more caring world.

Takeaways

• 📚 Servant leadership was introduced by Robert Greenleaf in 1970, emphasizing a philosophy that enriches lives and fosters a caring world.
• 🔄 It challenges traditional leadership by placing the leader in a supportive role at the base of the organizational pyramid, serving others.
• 👂 Listening is the first principle, highlighting the importance of active and respectful listening to understand and act upon received information.
• 🌟 Empathy is crucial for servant leaders to understand their team's strengths, weaknesses, motivations, and personal preferences.
• 🩹 Healing involves addressing holistic well-being through coaching, mentoring, and creating positive work environments.
• 👁️ Awareness is key for servant leaders to understand their own and their team's strengths, weaknesses, and the broader cultural context.
• ✋ Persuasion in servant leadership is about gaining followers through collaboration and shared vision rather than coercion.
• 🌐 Conceptualization is the ability to envision and articulate the future direction of the organization and its alignment with current activities.
• 🔮 Foresight allows servant leaders to learn from past experiences, understand current realities, and predict future outcomes.
• 🛠 Stewardship is about guiding an organization ethically and authentically, ensuring it contributes positively to society.
• 🌱 Commitment to the growth of people is central to servant leadership, focusing on both personal and professional development.
• 🏘️ Building community is fundamental, with servant leaders aiming to create cohesive teams through trust and a shared ambitious vision.

Q & A

What is the core concept of servant leadership as proposed by Robert Greenleaf?

Servant leadership is a philosophy and set of practices that enriches the lives of individuals, builds better organizations, and ultimately creates a more just and caring world. It rethinks the hierarchical model of leadership by placing the leader in a supporting and serving position at the bottom of the pyramid.

How does servant leadership differ from traditional leadership models?

Traditional leadership models place the leader at the top of the hierarchy with authority and power. Servant leadership, in contrast, flips this model, positioning the leader at the bottom to serve and support others, emphasizing the value of service over authority.

Why is listening considered a crucial skill in servant leadership?

Listening is central to servant leadership because it allows leaders to actively and respectfully hear others, which is essential for understanding their needs and acting on the received information. It's an overlooked skill that is vital for effective communication and leadership.

What role does empathy play in the context of servant leadership?

Empathy in servant leadership is about getting to know the team's strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes, and motivations. It enables leaders to serve and support their team members more effectively by understanding their individual experiences and needs.

Can you explain the concept of 'healing' in servant leadership?

In servant leadership, 'healing' refers to addressing the holistic well-being of individuals, which can be achieved through coaching, mentoring, and a relationship-oriented leadership style. It involves creating positive work environments and providing support to help people manage stress and difficulties.

How is 'awareness' important for a servant leader?

Awareness is crucial for servant leaders as it involves understanding one's own strengths, weaknesses, and the environment, as well as those of the team. This self-awareness and environmental awareness help in serving, supporting, managing, and leading the team more effectively.

What does persuasion in servant leadership entail?

Persuasion in servant leadership is about gaining followers through influence and collaboration rather than coercion. It means leaders want people to follow them because they believe in the vision, not because they have to.

Why is 'conceptualization' a key ability for servant leaders?

Conceptualization allows servant leaders to have a clear understanding of the future direction of the organization and how current activities align with that vision. It helps in providing direction and ensuring that the organization moves towards its long-term goals.

How does 'foresight' contribute to effective servant leadership?

Foresight enables servant leaders to learn from past experiences, understand current realities, and anticipate future outcomes. It involves reflective practices to inform decisions and is crucial for making well-informed choices that benefit the organization.

What is the significance of 'stewardship' in the context of servant leadership?

Stewardship in servant leadership is about guiding an organization for the greater good of society. It implies that leaders have a responsibility to ensure their institutions work ethically and authentically, focusing on more than just profits.

Why is 'commitment to the growth of people' a central pillar of servant leadership?

Servant leaders believe in the intrinsic value of people beyond their work contributions. They are deeply committed to the personal and professional growth of individuals, ensuring their welfare and well-being, which is a fundamental aspect of servant leadership.

How does 'building community' fit into the principles of servant leadership?

Building community is fundamental to servant leadership as it involves creating and synthesizing social and task-oriented communities. This is achieved through trust, a shared vision, and strong team cohesion, which are essential for the success of any organization.