Instructions:
- Post a new discussion related to the topics covered in this module. Your post needs to provide specific lessons learned with examples from this module helping you enhance your leadership capacity at work.
- After posting your discussion, review posts provided by other students in the class and reply to at least one of them.
8 Comments
Servant leadership is a style of leadership that focuses on empowering others. The goal is not to dominate or control others but to serve them. They prioritize the greater good and serve their organization and team members first and not their own objectives. A servant leader is a selfless leader who recognizes their responsibility to lift the performance of the team. They put their focus on what they can do for the team, not what the team can do for them.
I recently came across the concept of servant leadership and was intrigued by the idea of a leader who puts the needs of their team before their own. This leadership style focuses on empowering others, promoting growth and development, and building a sense of community within the team.
One example of servant leadership that comes to mind is the CEO of Starbucks, Howard Schultz. Under his leadership, the company implemented policies such as offering healthcare benefits to all employees, even part-time workers and creating a program to help employees obtain college degrees. Schultz also made a point to visit stores and connect with employees personally, showing that he cared about their well-being and success.
Another example is Mahatma Gandhi, who was a servant leader in the political realm. He believed in leading by example and empowering others to take action for themselves. His philosophy of nonviolent resistance inspired a movement that ultimately led to India’s independence.
Servant leadership is a powerful approach that can benefit any organization. By prioritizing the team’s needs, leaders can build a more robust, engaged workforce better equipped to tackle challenges and achieve success.
Reference:
The Role of Leadership in Business Success – Perfect Academic. https://www.perfectacademic.com/the-role-of-leadership-in-business-success/
When I think of good leaders over the course of my career, most of them would be described as servant leaders. They mentored me, motivated me, allowed me to grow within my role and pushed me to be the best I could be. They knew about my career goals and personal life. They genuinely wanted the best for me and used their position to grow each individual on their team to become the best they could. With power comes authority, but more importantly, it comes with resources and influence. If you can use the latter two to better your team, you’re a servant leader.
Leaders eat last. Its so true. As a father, my wife and kids are always to eat first. I make sure all their needs and wants are met first before mine. I need to know that they will be taken care of then I can worry about myself.
I completely agree with you. The concept of “Leaders eat last” is all about being selfless and putting the needs of others before your own. As a father, it’s great to see that you prioritize your family’s needs and ensure they are taken care of before yourself. It’s something that not only makes you a great leader but also a great role model for your children. Keep up the excellent work!
This was one of my favorite books by Simon Sinek. The concept that leaders eat last is very selfless and shows that these leaders are willing to give up something of their own for the benefit of those around them. Not for accolades or attention, but because they genuinely care about them.
I never thought of leadership as parenthood, however, it made complete sense. Both require the individual to think of someone other than himself or herself. They are responsible for another person. As a good leader, you put the needs of others ahead of your own and you are willing to help them become better. You protect the individuals who are within your command and provide them the tools they need to accomplish their goals. An individual also chooses to become a leader. These are all qualities and skills of parents (Spain, 2017).
Reference
Spain, R. (2017). Servant leadership. 3.5, Week # 10. National Command and Staff College. Retrieved from https://cloud.scorm.com/content/courses/
NAGVXPB5E6/ServantLeadershipLeadership4a33c9f1-96a4-4a4c-99a7-1d1344bacb71/4/index_lms.html
While there needs to be some separation (professionally speaking), I definitely think it’s a good comparison people can understand. As a leader, we need to learn our staff and do what we can with our authority, resources, and influence to make realistic goals happen to grow them into the best people we can. This builds trust, respect, and motivates people to work harder.