The Principles of Servant Leadership

 

In a nutshell, servant leadership stresses on the following traits:

  1. Leaders are required to help create a cohesive andhealthy working environmentinculcating asense of responsibility while fostering innovation enhancing motivation amongst employees
  2. Leaders are required to be selfless and humble
  3. Dignity of labour is something that leaders need to keep in mind especially with subordinates
  4. Involving all concerned in decision making is a key for all leaders – helps foster a sense of team and cooperation
  5. Interest of workers need to be foremost for leaders
  6. Emotional quotient of leaders need to be very high so that they are able to deal with the dynamic work environment and a meaningful work place
  7. Leaders need to focus on employees – growth and development as well as retention aspects
  8. Trust is an important trait which leaders need to have so that they earn the respect of the workforce
  9. Leaders are required to give a patient hearing to employees and be open to suggestions
  10. Valuing people in the business helps create a healthy working environment enabling the leaders to achieve organisational goals


The approach to servant leadership is highly spiritual with a human touch. It is radical in the sense that it is not as mechanistic or rational as leaders tend to be at times. The aim is to place the interest of the worker ahead of the shareholders which becomes the driving force in any organisation. It boosts a healthy work environment and motivates the workforce immensely as compared to working in silos or working with individuals. It helps create a robust team with an optimistic and supportive outlook who respond positively to such leaders. All this empowers the servant leaders and they can work with greater enthusiasm leading to consistent and greater productivity which benefits the organisation immensely.

 
Nick Hoogeveen