The Power of #ServantLeadership

In 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,

14 Leadership Trends That Will Shape Organizations In 2018,

Leadership Trends To Watch For From Now To 2022[/ref]

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

https://www.facebook.com/proactivecoach/posts/2093454273998026

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnaFFOoBNSu/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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

https://twitter.com/AdamRBradley/status/1050273145754664960

Care for your Followers on a Personal Level

https://twitter.com/ArnoldDuran13/status/1048900339817226241

https://twitter.com/ArnoldDuran13/status/1050328085223170048

https://twitter.com/howardbehar/status/1050418302785335297

https://twitter.com/alightinerie/status/1047462358409510913

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkO7rYajrKi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/Boy1iu-Bqw2/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Build Relationships

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk30G1WHX42/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnZAazYHuou/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://twitter.com/zimoza90/status/1051386584589893632

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

https://twitter.com/zimoza90/status/1051386007185223680

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnjAmzrBld-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

[bctt tweet=”A great leader is seen as a servant first. – Robert K. Greenleaf “]

Are you embracing your status as a servant leader? Here are a few resources for you: