The idea of the servant leader begins with a mindset. It is the idea that as a leader you are there to take care of the people who work for you. Success is possible because you are able to give your staff what they need (time, knowledge, help etc.) to get the job done without you. Ultimately, your job is to lead yourself out of a job.
There are two things necessary to be a good servant leader. The first is crucial for any type of leadership strategy: Know your people. I’ve talked about this before (click here) and I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to establish that one on one relationship with your team members. The second thing required is a deep seeded desire to serve others. You can’t fake this. If you don’t truly believe that you are there to serve your people – find another leadership model because servant leadership is as much about heart as it is about skills.
So what are the attributes of a servant leader? According to Boone and Mahkani a servant leader must be:
- Authentic
- Vulnerable
- Accepting
- Present
- Useful
Be Authentic:The servant leader is real. This is about your credibility and how it ties into your belief in service. If you don’t believe it- your staff won’t believe you.
Be Vulnerable: Do your followers trust you? In order to be trusted you have to make yourself vulnerable. You people know you are human. Don’t try to pretend that you’re not.
Be Accepting: Along those same lines, realize that your team is made up of human beings. As you get to know them, not only accept them for whom they are but explore ways to use different perspectives, attitudes and values to find solutions.
Be Present: No one follows the absentee manager. Get up from your desk and make your presence known. Practice MBWA (Management by walking around). This is one of the most powerful management tools I have ever encountered. Put down the clipboard and just be out and about. Believe it or not your staff wants to see you. Give them what they want.
Be Useful: This is the heart of service. Be what your people need you to be. If they need physical help, don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty – lend a hand. You’ll be surprised at the return on investment. If they need counseling and instruction, provide it. It’s not about what you need from them; rather, it’s about getting them to a place where they are empowered and confident enough to get the job done without you.
Reference: Boone, L. W., & Makhani, S. (2012). Five Necessary Attitudes of a Servant Leader. Review Of Business, 33(1), 83-96.