Reading Time: 2 minutesIn our click-bait world of tips, tricks, and top-ten lists, #servantleadership is one aspect of leadership that often gets shuffled to the sidelines. Intricate topics—like creating brand ambassadors, promoting individual growth, embracing work/life blend, fostering corporate culture, cultivating employee development, and SMART goal setting—tend to dominate the leadership conversation.[ref] New Trends in Leadership,
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While these topics are indeed valuable, they also tend to pull leaders-in-training away from more fundamental concepts.
Back to Basics
Just like all Jesus followers have been recreated to lead, servant leadership is the foundation on which all other leadership traits are built. In her article Ten Qualities of Influential Christians, Amber Riggs states that:
First and foremost, [influential Christians] engage in a journey to understand and know Christ and His heart. As part of this journey, they allow their hearts to be reshaped and intentionally anchor their character in His. In the process, they become living, breathing reflections of Christ.”
Again and again, the Gospels show us that Christ’s example was one of servant leadership. Even though His followers expected a mighty leader who would overthrow their Roman oppressors and establish a great earthly kingdom—Jesus consistently surprised them with His focus on servant leadership. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, started conversations with outcasts, and ate with sinners. He sought out opportunities to teach the people and train His disciples, while avoiding public fame and attention (John 6:14-15, Matt. 16: 15-20).
On the night before His arrest, Christ astonished His disciples once again by stooping to wash their feet, a task that was usually reserved for the lowliest servant. Our Savior’s act of service deftly cut through the disciples’ pride and ambition, and left them (and us) with the ultimate example of leadership.
#ServantLeadership
By anchoring our character in Christ’s, other leadership skills will come more naturally. Trending topics like open communication, empathy, leading by example, employee development, and even goal setting, will become natural extensions of a servant leader’s heart. Here are a few #servantleadership posts to remind us that this kind of humble leadership enables us to:
Inspire by Example
Posted by Proactive Coaching on Friday, September 7, 2018
Having people that work for you does not make you a leader of them, it makes you a servant to them. A great way to serve is to lead. Another great way to serve is to follow when they lead. #ServantLeadership
— Daniel Buhr (@Cybuhr) October 9, 2018
Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.
― Martin Luther King Jr#servantleadership #MartinLutherKing #leadership @wearekingsgate @RMchurches pic.twitter.com/yF2Ch7wEwQ— Adam Bradley (@AdamRBradley) October 11, 2018
Care for your Followers on a Personal Level
Leadership is about allow ownership and help others to build their ideas !!!#leadershipdevelopment #emotionalintelligence pic.twitter.com/0DqtrmkBSz
— Jose Arnaldo Duran (@ArnoldDuran13) October 7, 2018
Been a leader is not about you, is always about them !!!#leadershipdevelopment #emotionalintelligence pic.twitter.com/FhBL1z0gXb
— Jose Arnaldo Duran (@ArnoldDuran13) October 11, 2018
How do you inspire greatness in your people? #ServantLeadership quote via Robert Langer, head of Langer Lab at MIT Department of Chemical Engineering pic.twitter.com/5iMutHsZHN
— Howard Behar (@howardbehar) October 11, 2018
A servant doesn't wait to be asked but restlessly looks for unmet needs. #Ogden #servantleadership
— Daryl Grimes (@alightinerie) October 3, 2018
Build Relationships
A big #leadership takeaway from a #LeadershipDevelopment workshop I ran for some #entrepreneurs and #YoungLeaders. #colloborate don’t #compete. Give #praise instead of seeking #credit It’s how we change the world! pic.twitter.com/X6MCyUmXoU
— Deborah Hartung (@deborah_hartung) October 7, 2018
"????????? #??????? ???????. ??? ?????????? ?ℎ????? ?? ????? ??? ?????? ??????? ??????ℎ??? – ??? ?????? ?? ??? ?????."@simonsinek #leadership #culture #servantleadership
— Tony Woodley (@zimoza90) October 14, 2018
Empower Your Followers to Embrace Their Own Leadership Potential
Many leaders delegate tasks instead of authority. If you delegate tasks, you create followers. If you delegate authority, over time, you will create leaders.
. . .#LeadershipPodcast #Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipMatters #success #leader #business #development— Craig Groeschel (@craiggroeschel) October 9, 2018
As a leader, the best advice I have is to invest in others. #ServantLeadership #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/K7w9LHrIHA
— Art Barter (@Art_Barter) October 8, 2018
"?ℎ? ?????????????? ?? #???????ℎ?? ?? ??? ?? ???? ?? ???ℎ ??? ?ℎ? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ?? ??????????? ?? ?ℎ??ℎ ????? ????? ??? ?ℎ????."@simonsinek #servantleadership
— Tony Woodley (@zimoza90) October 14, 2018
A great leader is seen as a servant first. - Robert K. Greenleaf Click To Tweet
Are you embracing your status as a servant leader? Here are a few resources for you:
- Follow our Instagram account for daily leadership quotes and inspiration!
- Read Why Jesus-Followers Should See Themselves as Leaders & 10 Qualities of Influential Christians.
- Get Artios Christian College’s free download of Discovering Your Leadership Strengths.
- Enroll in Artios Christian College’s introductory course: Essentials of Vibrant Leadership.
Believing that all Christians have a natural realm of influence, our mission is to partner with you in your natural realm of influence by connecting you with resources that equip you to more effectively invite people to experience the Kingdom of God.
- Why We Keep Singing Together: An Artios Roundtable Discussion - April 1, 2019
- Lead Up’s Top Posts of 2018: Everyday Christians Embracing Leadership - December 31, 2018
- The Power of #ServantLeadership - October 22, 2018
