The Role of a Servant Leader

Dan Hurt

December 13, 2022

The Role of a Servant Leader

Whether you are leading a business, church, or an individual, there are three essential traits to being a servant leader. These are stewardship, humility, and persuasion. These skills are necessary to create a warm and friendly environment where people can be trusted and to bring about results.

Humility

Having the courage to admit your flaws can be challenging. Many leaders are reluctant to acknowledge the mistakes of others, which makes them less than adequate. In contrast, humble leader will use their mistakes as learning opportunities.

In the end, a humble leader isn’t just a teacher; he’s a student for life. Whether working with his peers or his students, he’ll be willing to try new things, including cutting-edge technologies.

A humble leader will also have a well-developed network of like-minded individuals. This can help a leader reinvent himself and his organization. The best examples of this are leaders with humility, such as George Washington. The president set an excellent standard in words and deeds.

Another lesson in humility is to give credit where credit is due. While it’s important to give credit to the team for a job well done, there’s no need to take credit for the hard work of others.

Persuasion

Whether you’re a leader or a staff member, persuasion is an important skill. Servant leaders use it to empower their team members and ensure their company’s objectives are met. It is also a great way to develop your relationship with your employees.

Servant leader uses their knowledge of the business to explain why one approach might be better than another. They also encourage team members to think bigger and beyond the day-to-day humdrum. They have an uncanny ability to predict the consequences of a decision.

For example, a servant leader might use the power of persuasion to convince an employee to attend a special event. This could be a birthday party or a work anniversary. Taking the time to schedule a meeting with an employee to celebrate these milestones can be an excellent way to build rapport and foster emotional intelligence.

Stewardship

Developing a steward leadership model in your organization is one way to ensure long-term vitality. This model provides clarity and empowers your team. It requires a commitment to release control and build trust. It also involves personal development and mentoring.

A steward leader is an individual who leads a staff and manages the organization’s resources. They define a specific goal and support the team’s progress toward it. The role is characterized by the ability to care for others and provide clear directions. This role is not a permanent position but is intended to be transitional.

A steward leader acts as a mentor and coach. They set goals and give clear directions. They are also accountable for their actions. The steward is aware of their role and knows that it is time-limited. They are prepared to pass the position to another steward when the time comes.

Creating a friendly environment

Creating a friendly environment is the role of a servant leader. They care for their team members personally and work to promote a healthy work-life balance. And also encourage learning opportunities, growth, and action by example. They are dedicated to their jobs and strive to make their teams stronger.

In addition, servant leaders build trust and relationships. They ask questions, provide feedback, and explain their process in a clear, open manner. This helps create a sense of belonging in the workplace.

By empowering their teammates, servant leaders encourage employees to speak up about issues that affect their performance. It also boosts their morale and improves their motivation. They’re more likely to be open and honest when working, so they’ll be more willing to raise concerns or suggest ways to enhance their work.

Generating results

Using servant leadership is a great way to generate results. It focuses on the team’s needs first. It empowers employees, builds trust, and provides growth opportunities. 

When leaders demonstrate the right amount of selflessness, employees feel valued and produce better work. It’s also good to let them know how their work contributes to the company’s success.

Influential servant leaders make use of tools such as a SWOT analysis. This helps them understand past events, predict future outcomes, and manage upcoming projects.

To do this effectively, they must clearly understand their own goals. They must be able to recognize their strengths and learn from their mistakes and also be mindful of their weaknesses. They should have an open-minded approach to criticism and accept feedback graciously.