Servant Leadership

Are You A Servant Leader?

Place a check in the box of each of the following questions that you would answer with a “yes.” 
If you can check more than seven of these, you may be well on your way to becoming a servant leader.

• �  Do people believe that you are willing to sacrifice your own self-interest for the good of the group?
  
• �  Do people believe that you want to hear their ideas and will value them?
• � Do people believe that you will understand what is happening in their lives and how it affects them? 
• � Do people come to you when the chips are down or when something traumatic has happened in their lives?
• � Do others believe that you have a strong awareness for what is going on?
• � Do others follow your requests because they want to as opposed to because they “have to?”
• � Do others communicate their ideas and vision for the organization when you are around?
• � Do others have confidence in your ability to anticipate the future and its consequences?
• � Do others believe you are preparing the organization to make a positive difference in the world?
• � Do people believe that you are committed to helping them develop and grow?
• � Do people feel a strong sense of community in the organization that you lead? 

Servant leaders have a natural desire to serve others. This notion of having a calling to serve is deeply rooted and value-based. Servant leaders have a desire to make a difference for other people and will pursue opportunities to impact others’ lives — never for their own gain. A servant leader is willing to sacrifice self-interests for the sake of others. 

Servant leaders are excellent listeners. They are receptive and genuinely interested in the views and input of others.

 Servant leaders can “walk in others’ shoes.” They understand and empathize with others’ circumstances and problems.

Servant leaders are people who others want to approach when something traumatic has happened. They have developed a remarkable appreciation for the emotional health and spirit of others. They are good at facilitating the healing process and others gravitate toward them when emotional needs arise.

Servant leaders have a keen sense for what is happening around them. They are always looking for cues from the environment to inform their opinions and decisions.

Servant leaders seek to convince others to do things rather than relying on formal authority. They are naturally very persuasive and offer compelling reasons when they make requests.

Servant leaders nurture the ability to conceptualize the world, events and possibilities.

Servant leaders have an uncanny ability to anticipate future events. This is not to say they are psychic or always right, but they are adept at picking up patterns in the environment and seeing what the future will bring.

Servant leaders often are characterized by a strong sense of stewardship. A steward in an organization is responsible for preparing it for its destiny, usually for the betterment of society.

Servant leaders have a strong commitment to the growth of people. They believe that all people have something to offer beyond their tangible contributions.

Servant leaders have a strong sense of community spirit and work hard to foster it in an organization. They believe that an organization needs to function as a community.