Servant Leadership: Empathy, Compassion, and Self-Care

Leadership: Aligning Collective Directions and Execution Strategies

Leadership is a set of behaviors used to help people align their collective direction, execute strategic plans, and continuously renew. It is something you do, not something you are. Leaders can be found in various roles and scenarios, from executives to teachers, coaches, and managers, all working towards enabling groups of people to achieve joint objectives that they couldn't accomplish alone. Leadership is not innate, but rather a learned skill, with mindsets and behaviors at its core.

Evolving Leadership Landscape: From the traditional industrial economy perspective, management was rooted in providing technical expertise and direction, with a sole focus on maximizing value for shareholders. Over time, this approach has been surpassed by the demands of 21st-century organizations, including the need for more resilient, human-centric, and digitally enabled organizations. The new approach to leadership is often described as "servant leadership," where leaders focus on serving their team members and creating a supportive work environment.

Key Components of Servant Leadership: Servant leadership emphasizes empathy, compassion, vulnerability, gratitude, self-awareness, and self-care. Leaders who practice these behaviors can enhance team performance and satisfaction. Some of the key shifts in this new approach include:

1. Empathy: Understanding and connecting with team members' emotions and experiences.
2. Compassion: Showing care and concern for team members' well-being.
3. Vulnerability: Being open and authentic, demonstrating vulnerability can help build trust with team members.
4. Gratitude: Expressing appreciation for team members' contributions.
5. Self-awareness: Recognizing personal strengths and weaknesses, as well as how they impact others.
6. Self-care: Prioritizing personal well-being and well-being of others.

These shifts extend beyond traditional leadership approaches, promoting a more holistic and inclusive leadership style.

In conclusion, leadership is a set of behaviors that enable people to collectively align, execute, and renew. The practice of leadership is not limited to a single approach and evolves with the changing demands of organizations. Servant leadership, with its emphasis on serving and caring for team members, is a promising approach that can enhance team performance and satisfaction.