In this episode of the "Psych in Business" podcast, your host, Dr. Ernest Wayde outlines the fundamental principles of Servant Leadership, delving into the concept's seven pillars. The episode begins with a personal perspective on adopting the servant leadership approach, highlighting the importance of leading through service and setting the stage for a comprehensive exploration of its modern foundations.
The origins of servant leadership trace back to an essay by former AT&T executive Robert Greenleaf in 1970. It advocated for leading through service, a concept that remains at the core of the servant leadership model today. The discussion takes a closer look at how this approach was further developed by SAP and Fricke in 2009, focusing on key themes that echo Greenleaf's original essay.
The heart of the episode revolves around the seven pillars of servant leadership:
- Person of Character: Leaders are encouraged to embody integrity, consistency, ethics, and trustworthiness. They are humble, admit their mistakes, and use their values as a guiding compass.
- Putting People First: Servant leaders prioritize the needs of others, often going above and beyond what is expected. They nurture growth, engage in mentoring and coaching, and genuinely care about their employees and colleagues.
- Skilled Communicator: Effective communication is crucial, emphasizing empathetic and active listening. Leaders actively seek feedback and motivate employees to find their own motivation.
- Compassionate Collaborator: Servant leaders build inclusive communities, fostering psychological safety where all team members can freely express themselves without fear of repercussions.
- Foresight: Leaders with foresight possess long-term vision, anticipate consequences, make difficult decisions, and prioritize the organization's success over popular opinion.
- Systems Thinker: Leaders understand the interconnectedness of various aspects of an organization, enabling them to navigate change successfully and make informed decisions.
- Lead with Moral Authority: These leaders respect and appreciate everyone's role in the organization, share power as appropriate, and set clear cultural expectations. They lead by example, modeling the behavior they expect from others.
You can visit his business website at: https://www.waydeconsulting.com/
