How to Become a Servant Leader

Take a moment: think of the word “leader.” List five words or short phrases that describe what being a “leader” is to you. Go ahead, I’ll wait…

Okay. Did you come up with words that sounded like: Decision-Maker? Takes action? Has vision? Accomplishes goals?

How about: Listens to others? Cares about others? Builds a team?

My guess is that most, if not all, of your words would’ve fit into either list comfortably. I’ve conducted this exercise with many leaders in a number of different countries and the answers are always similar.

What leaders do: (Yes, leadership is about “doing;” not about “being.” Leaders “do.”)

At the most basic level, people want three things from their leaders:

• They want a leader who has a clear sense of direction or purpose.
• They want a leader who’s competent.
• They want a leader who cares about them.

Common, Shaky Foundations for Leadership

Many leaders feel like their ability to lead is based upon their title or position; or, perhaps, in their wealth, resources or maybe even their power. But none of these things actually create leadership; at least, not the kind of leadership that has willing followers.

Title, position and resources may all be influential on their own; but when people follow these things, they aren’t following you. Power is clearly influential; but it’s coercive and temporary. People will only move as far as they’re pushed. People will only follow as long as you retain that power. It takes a lot of energy and effort to maintain leadership when wielding title, position or resources.

Leadership Made Easy

It takes something different to be a person who’s followed by others; to be a person called: leader. This kind of person will be followed and have influence regardless of their title, position or their resources. And they may not even have any direct power.

How do you develop this? It’s actually very simple.

The most effective and influential leaders understand and care about this question:

What will bring the greatest value or purpose to those who follow me?

Think about the leaders you respect. What is it you most respect about them? To what degree did they bring value or purpose to those they led?

Regardless of the industry you’re in, or where you lead, make sure you answer that question. As you grow in your ability to bring value or accomplish purpose, people will automatically follow you. You won’t have to work at it.

What about those you lead now? What seems to be most important to them? What is one thing you can do to bring value or sense of purpose to those you lead? Let me know if this change of focus makes a difference.