Karen Keller
What is the concept of servant leadership? The servant-leader is servant first. Initially, women want to serve. It is our conscious choice. Then we aspire to lead. That is what makes women GREAT leaders. Women see and accept the value in serving as a way of leading.
Servant leaders are not designed to be autocratic, or practice hierarchical methods of leadership. They function best with leadership that supports teamwork and community, leadership that values opinion and shared ideas, and leadership that complements a job well done.
Servant leadership looks at what is motivating the leader, rather than the worker. The most effective leaders are not motivated by power and greed, but by a desire to serve. The old method of leading was based on a pyramid shaped model of top-down and coercive style. Servant leaders have practiced a more effective way of leading; an interconnected group of circles emphasizing empowerment and community.
The servant leader has, among others, four distinctive core values; respecting and protecting dignity, empathy, wisdom and stewardship. They don’t see these four core values as barriers but rather as core values that listen to and respond to the voices of their followers.
The best indication that you are being an influential servant-leader is observing those being served. They grow, become healthier, wiser, freer, more independent and more likely to become servant-leaders themselves. When followers experience this level of freedom their performance increases, they ask better questions, and have a well-grounded respect for their leader.
Servant leaders have a special set of skills; empathetic listening, conflict-resolution, community building, consensus building, decision-making, and problem solving. They base their leadership on their experiences, their learning, and what is central to the overall good.
