Leaders come in all shapes and sizes, but the kind of leader that commands respect from the people around them is the “servant first” leader. These leaders understand that success is about helping others rather than simply asserting their own power.
If you want to become a “servant first” leader yourself, then this article is for you! Here we will discuss eight essential steps on how to become a “servant first” leader who puts others before themselves and ensures everyone works towards a common goal. So if you’re ready to join the ranks of successful servant leaders, let’s get started!
How to become a servant first leader
Leadership can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re looking to become a leader that commands respect and inspires others, consider the “servant first” approach. This means putting others before yourself and recognizing their potential before your own.
By adopting this style of leadership, you can help create a more collaborative work environment where everyone is working towards a common goal. In order to become a “servant first” leader, there are eight essential steps you need to take.
From understanding the principles of servant leadership laid out by Robert K. Greenleaf and Larry C. Spears, to learning from other successful leaders like James Autry, these steps will help you develop meaningful relationships with those around you and foster growth in both your personal and professional life.
With dedication and commitment to this model of leadership, you can create an environment where everyone feels valued while achieving corporate performance management objectives at the same time. So take the plunge and become the kind of leader who puts people first – it’s worth it!
By taking the time to focus on being a “servant first” leader, you can create an environment that helps everyone reach their potential and achieve success. Now, let’s explore how to build strong communication skills in order to further your leadership journey.
1. Build strong communication skills
Strong communication is essential for any leader who wants to be successful. The ability to effectively convey your vision, values, and objectives is key in order to inspire and motivating those around you. To develop strong communication skills you must first identify the kind of leader that you want to be.
Do you want to be a visionary leader like Steve Jobs or an authoritarian model like Jack Welch? Once you know the type of leader that you are striving to become, you can focus on building your communication skills accordingly.
Next, practice active listening by paying attention to what people are saying and really understanding their perspectives. By doing this, not only will you gain more insight into the situation at hand but also build meaningful relationships with those around you.
Lastly, use empathy when communicating with others as it helps create a sense of trust and respect between both parties. With strong communication skills, leaders can effectively communicate their vision, goals, and objectives while inspiring those around them.
2. Improve your listening skills
As a leader, it is essential to be able to listen to and understand the perspectives of those you are trying to lead. Listening is more than just hearing – it involves understanding and responding thoughtfully. By taking the time to actively listen and engage in meaningful conversations with your colleagues, you will gain valuable insights and build better relationships.
Steve Jobs was a great example of an effective listener, who not only heard what people had to say but also took the time to truly understand their perspectives. He believed that listening was key for any leader who wanted to be successful in their role, as it allowed him to learn from his team and make better decisions for the company.
Listening is an important skill for any future leader and is something you should practice on a daily basis. Take the time each day to actively listen by engaging in meaningful conversations and paying attention to what those around you have to say – this will help you gain valuable insight into different situations and build strong relationships with those around you.
3. Develop empathy
Steve Jobs was a visionary leader who understood the importance of building empathy. He believed that in order to be an effective leader, it was essential to have a deep understanding and appreciation of the situation and feelings of those you are leading.
Developing empathy starts with recognizing that everyone has a unique perspective. Rather than trying to impose your own views or expectations on others, take the time to really listen and understand their points of view. By doing this, you will be able to better appreciate their ideas and make decisions that are in the best interest of all involved.
Empathy is not only important for effective leadership but also for personal growth. It helps us become more compassionate individuals and gain insight into our own behavior. Developing empathy requires practice but can be done through active listening, being open-minded, and recognizing the value in other people’s perspectives. It is an invaluable skill that any future leader should strive to cultivate.
4. Work on your self-awareness
Steve Jobs was a visionary leader who understood the importance of self-awareness. He knew that in order to be successful, it was essential to be aware of one’s own strengths and weaknesses in order to become a better leader. Self-awareness allows you to understand your motivations and how you interact with others, enabling you to make conscious choices that will lead to success.
Developing self-awareness is not easy and requires time and effort, but it is worth it in the long run. To begin, take time for introspection and evaluation. Ask yourself questions about your goals and values, as well as why you do the things you do. Reflect on your past experiences and what lessons they taught you. Consider how your actions have impacted those around you; this will help you recognize the power of your words and actions on others.
Self-awareness is an invaluable skill for any aspiring leader. By understanding yourself better, you can make more informed decisions that will benefit everyone involved. With self-awareness comes the ability to take responsibility for mistakes, accept feedback with humility, and build meaningful relationships with colleagues – all important traits of a great leader.
5. Learn to use your influence for good
Leaders have the power to shape their communities and foster positive change. Steve Jobs understood this, recognizing that it is important for leaders to use their influence for good. To do this, leaders must be willing to take risks and push boundaries in order to drive progress.
It is also essential for leaders to be aware of how their actions affect others. They need to consider how their decisions will impact the people they work with, as well as those they serve. Leaders should strive to create an environment where everyone feels heard and respected. This can help foster trust and understanding among those involved, leading to more effective collaboration and better results.
Leaders should also remember that using influence for good involves taking responsibility for mistakes and accepting criticism gracefully. Taking ownership of mistakes helps build trust and encourages growth while being open-minded about feedback leads to better decision-making in the future.
Ultimately, when used responsibly, a leader’s influence can lead to real progress and positive change in their community. By setting a good example and inspiring others with their words and deeds, leaders can create a lasting impact on those around them.
6. Start putting others first
As a leader, it is important to always put others first. Steve Jobs understood this and believed that in order to be an effective leader, you must make the needs of your team and those you serve a priority before your own. This may require making conscious choices to focus on what will benefit the most people and not just yourself. By doing this, you can create an environment where everyone feels valued and respected and can have an equal opportunity for growth.
Servant leadership is a style of leadership that focuses on helping people develop, empowering them to reach their potential, and building a strong community. It emphasizes the importance of taking care of those around you rather than focusing solely on corporate performance management or hierarchical models. Not only does servant leadership lead to better relationships between leaders and their teams but it also creates more effective leaders in the long run.
Leaders who are “servants first” prioritize personal growth with professional growth as well as building meaningful relationships with team members instead of relying on authoritarian models or role models from outside the company. Taking these steps not only helps ensure better results at work but also provides immense satisfaction from knowing that you are helping shape future leaders in your organization or community.
7. Keep the organization’s goals in mind
As a leader, it is essential to keep the organization’s goals in mind when making decisions. Steve Jobs was a firm believer in this, as his work at Apple demonstrated. He was always focused on what would benefit the most people and not on personal gain. This is key for any leader who wants to be successful.
Keeping the end goal in mind allows leaders to stay focused and prioritize tasks that are important to achieving success. It also helps build trust amongst employees because they know their leader isn’t just thinking about what is good for them, but what is best for the company as a whole. Furthermore, having clear objectives also helps create an environment where everyone can work together towards a common purpose.
Leaders who are “servants first” understand that their role is not only to lead but also to help others reach their potential and be part of something bigger than themselves; something that will benefit everyone involved in the long run. By keeping this mindset, leaders can foster an environment where everyone feels valued and respected while still being able to focus on reaching organizational goals with excellence.
8. Learn how to develop others holistically
Learning how to develop others holistically is a vital quality of being a “servant first” leader. Visionary leaders like Steve Jobs, Larry C. Spears, and James Autry all emphasized the importance of helping employees reach their full potential as people, not merely as workers.
Rather than viewing development solely through the lens of skills and knowledge, these leaders took a holistic approach that included personal growth, professional growth, and building community. They saw development not just as a way to increase productivity and corporate performance but also as an opportunity to help people live better lives both inside and outside of work.
In addition to providing opportunities for training and education within an organization, these leaders also encouraged mentorship programs that involved role models from various backgrounds who could provide guidance and advice on everything from career advice to family life.
This type of leadership was especially important during times when organizations were transitioning away from hierarchical or authoritarian models towards more collaborative approaches to leadership.
By taking a holistic approach to develop others, visionary leaders like Steve Jobs understood that they could create transformational environments where everyone could reach their full potential both professionally and personally. That is what it means to be a “servant first” leader in today’s world.
Final Thoughts
Visionary leaders like Steve Jobs have shown that the key to becoming a “servant first” leader is learning how to develop others holistically. This approach focuses not only on skills and knowledge, but also on personal growth, professional growth, and building community.
Such an approach has been proven to create transformational environments where everyone can reach their full potential both professionally and personally. Leaders who take this approach will not only be effective in their roles but will also help their organizations succeed in the long run.
Ultimately, it is up to future leaders to make the conscious choice of whether or not they want to become “servant first” leaders – but if they do, they will undoubtedly reap the rewards!
