Working with Servant-led Organizations
What are some myths surrounding servant leadership?
What are some of the lessons learned from practicing servant leadership?
Join Christa & Matt as they debunk servant leadership myths and share some behind-the-scenes secrets!
In June’s Servant Leadership Community of Practice, Christa Williams of Sophia Partners and Matt Kosec of Matthew Kosec Consulting discussed the lessons learned from working with servant-led organizations and the myths surrounding servant leadership they’ve debunked along the way.
Q1: What is the biggest myth that organizations hold about servant leadership?
Matt: I would say ‘soft’ servant leadership. Servant leadership that is touchy-feely and has no deeper substance.
People will say they’ve adopted servant leadership into their organization, but when asked about what it is they can’t articulate it clearly.
TRUTH = Servant leadership is deeper than surface level and is proven to contribute to the bottom line.
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Christa: Many people don’t believe servant leadership makes a difference. That it’s only a quick fix or just the next big leadership fad.
TRUTH = Servant leadership requires a systemic change within the organization and personal maturity and self-awareness.
Building up the trust bank in your organization takes time so be patient!
Q2: What have you learned about servant leadership by working with teams?
Matt: People say.. “Matt, you’ve never worked in (insert specific company type) so you don’t know how it works.” These companies think they’re unique in their challenges.
While every organization and industry has its unique aspects, servant leadership concepts are truly universal across all industries.
We have the tools to build impactful teams and organizations regardless of who or where they are.
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Christa: I use the term ‘trusted learning partners’ to describe a small network of people that challenge me in good ways. But not everyone has that psychological safety net.
I encourage everyone to find a small group of highly trusted people to work through the tough (& exciting) conversations!
Q3: How do you become more self-aware about servant leadership?
Matt & Christa: We talk about self-awareness as if it’s EASY, but it’s not. As a leader, you might have a lot of responsibilities and a fear of making mistakes.
Learn to grow your self-discovery at your own pace and don’t let your self-judgment get in the way.
Spend time thinking about what servant leadership means to you – and work to gain an understanding about yourself to support being able to clearly articulate your needs, thoughts, and ideas to others.
Helpful tools to look into:
Another important reminder for leaders and practitioners is to remember this is a journey.
We are all aspiring works-in-progress when it comes to our blind spots and growth opportunities. Knowing this, set realistic expectations for your team and organization!
Servant Leadership in the Workplace: Learning Lessons
#1 There’s always room to GROW.
If you think that once you have the title of ‘servant-leader’ and you’re done, sorry, not sorry – you’re wrong! It’s truly an ongoing journey.
Find your trusted learning partners, peers, colleagues, etc. who can help you grow.
Then remember that servant leadership doesn’t have to be serious. Yes, you need to have accountability for serving and leading others BUT you can still have fun!
#2 People need ‘water’ to THRIVE.
Invest in yourself. Your ‘water’ will look different than everyone else, here are some examples:
- Check-ins (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.)
- Self-assessments
- Training programs
Growth won’t happen overnight. It takes time, commitment, and conversation!
#3 Everyone has a UNIQUE story.
Servant leadership is a personal journey – for the individual, team, and organization.
People may say, “Adopting servant leadership is going to take years..” and we say, YES! It might be frustrating but it must grow organically at its own pace.
As a leader, you can help provide the resources, training, tools, and environment to let the seed grow on its own. With watering, of course!
Behind-the-scenes Leadership Takeaways
Servant Leadership in Practice: What works & what doesn’t work?
Here is what attendees shared with us. What would you add?
To create well-rounded teams, schedule regular meetings and take time for personal growth and leadership.
Help your team understand the WHY. Facilitate conversations instead of spoon feeding them answers or directions.
Using personal assessments are helpful in creating a positive work culture.
Read the book Immunity to Change:
Helped individuals gain self-awareness and improve in certain areas.- Highlighted fears or assumptions that you or your team might have that are keeping your organization from progressing.
- Created a peer type culture and opened up lines of communication within and across departments.
What is your best piece of servant leadership advice?
- Invest in your people.
- Lead by example, listen with intent, ask for feedback, and be honest.
- Be willing to be open and vulnerable.
- Mentoring is key.
- “I have nothing in mind for you.” – Peter Block
- If I want to be truly present, I need to listen to their needs not my own.
- Servant leadership never happens the first time around so be patient.
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What have you learned from this blog? Contact us and let us know!
Don’t miss your opportunity to join our next conversation! Community Practice sessions are amazing opportunities for any and all leaders to gather and learn from one another in a supportive, comfortable environment, right from your computer. July’s Community of Practice topic is “The Link between Play, Renewal, Energy, and Servant Leadership.”
Additional Resources:
- Immunity to Change: How to Overcome It and Unlock the Potential in Yourself and Your Organization (Leadership for the Common Good) – Robert Kegan, Lisa Laskow Lahey
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This blog post wraps up June 2023’s Community of Practice event. To join us during the live discussion for future months, register at https://www.sophiapartners.org/events/. Community of Practice occurs the fourth Tuesday of each month from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. CT.
