How can Servant Leadership help you discover your passion?

Passion is a personal spark that fuels perseverance and joy in activities we cherish. It's the intense drive that keeps us engaged, even when the going gets tough. Passion isn't handed to us; it's discovered through experiences and a willingness to dive deep into what resonates with our core. It's less about talent and more about what consistently ignites our enthusiasm and commitment.

Passion is a profound force, a deep-seated drive that gives meaning and direction to our professional journey. In my experience, it's akin to a compass guiding us toward fulfilling work that resonates deeply with our values and aspirations. Reflecting on moments of deep satisfaction and fulfillment in your career can reveal clues to your underlying passions. It’s about finding what makes you come alive, what energizes you even in challenging times.

Servant Leadership, by emphasizing empathy, collaboration, and individual growth, creates an environment conducive to self-discovery. Team members, under the guidance of a servant leader, are more likely to uncover their passions, align their work with their interests, and contribute meaningfully to the collective goals of the team and organization. Scrum Masters now have more emphasis on being a True leader rather than Servant-leader. The 2017 scrum guide used the term Servant Leadership to describe the style of leadership that serves Scrum Teams well. This idea is still valid, however, the 2020 Scrum Guide places more emphasis on leadership, removing the potential misinterpretation that Scrum Masters are servants first and leaders second.

When someone is passionate about a particular subject or activity, they are naturally inclined to seek out opportunities for learning and development. Whether it's through formal education, self-directed study, or hands-on experience, passionate individuals are driven to expand their knowledge and skills in their chosen field. Passion comes from within, propelling individuals to pursue activities or goals that deeply resonate with them. This intrinsic motivation fuels persistence, resilience, and a willingness to overcome obstacles in the pursuit of one's passion.

The concept of servant leadership—often misconstrued as a submissive approach when, in fact, it's a potent catalyst for uncovering one's passion. Picture this: instead of barking orders from an ivory tower, a servant leader rolls up their sleeves, dives into the trenches, and nurtures their team's growth. How does this tie to passion? Well, let me illuminate this path. Passion often lurks in the shadows, awaiting discovery. Servant leadership, with its emphasis on empathy, active listening, and fostering an environment of trust, offers a fertile ground for unearthing one's passions. When leaders genuinely engage with their teams, they not only understand their skills but also their dreams and aspirations.

Discovering passion through servant leadership has been a transformative experience for me. This leadership style, rooted in empathy, nurturing, and supporting others, has a unique way of uncovering what truly matters to us. As I focused on empowering my team and contributing to their success, I found my passion in fostering growth and development in others. It's a journey of self-discovery, where serving others becomes a mirror reflecting our deepest interests and motivations.

I discovered my passion for servant leadership when I realised that I value compassion, growth, and contribution more than anything else. I enjoy listening to others, empathising with their needs, and helping them overcome their challenges. I also love learning new things and sharing my knowledge with others. I feel fulfilled when I see my team members thrive and achieve their goals. Servant leadership helped me discover my passion by aligning my values with my actions. It also gave me a sense of purpose and meaning in my work. By serving others, I serve myself.

Servant leadership deeply intertwines with passion. When you serve others, you often find what drives you. As you focus on the growth and well-being of those around you, you naturally align with your core values and interests. This alignment can ignite a strong sense of purpose and fulfillment, which fuels your passion. Moreover, by engaging with diverse individuals and their needs, you're likely to stumble upon new areas that excite you, further nurturing your passion.

The link between servant leadership and passion can be vague yet tangible. A servant leader may not even be aware of where their core passions lie but they know that they value people which leads them to serve. It is in this process of servant leadership that they discover their passion. Over a period of consistent service, that passion is honed and they attain or begin to attain mastery. A servant leader’s satisfaction is not merely in the receipt of awards, but in doing with excellence, that which they were born to do.

Servant leadership is what great leaders of the past have practised , think MLK, Ghandi and think about how they changed history Servant leadership is for those that see the bigger picture, stripping themselves of ego, and self preservation In my experience it is challenging and very often mis understood after all why would anyone do everything they can for something other than themselves It takes years of internal personal development and practice and its ok if sometimes you are not that leader all the team - in fact situational leadership is where you need to develop and from that servant leadership will have its time, space and impact

Servant leadership is about understanding team needs and empowering them to tackle challenges. I facilitate sessions where we collectively identify and address workflow bottlenecks. For example, the team once creatively resolved a recurring issue, enhancing our efficiency and sense of ownership. When necessary, I intervene to remove larger roadblocks. Like when I secured extra resources to ease workload pressures, directly addressing the team's needs. These approaches of empowering the team and providing support when needed epitomize servant leadership, fostering a productive and supportive work environment.

In my view, to live out servant leadership, start by really hearing what people say. Show you value their thoughts. Help them grow by giving clear advice and cheering their wins. Lead by example, showing the behavior you hope to see. And always be ready to learn, owning up to errors and asking for honest opinions to get better.

My second question after finding out their goals for the role with a new employee is "if this wasn't your role, what group would you want to be involved with?" This adds a human element to their approach to the job. Often times the role you are given is not your first choice or you have a passion that the organization could benefit from. This tries try to develop them as an employee. I try to get them involved in a major status meeting or other type of activity with a team that relates to that passion. The results are two fold. One we become a more informed group, often allowing us to head off issues before they become issues. Second they feel a greater allegiance to the organization as a whole.

I practice servant leadership by engaging in active listening, empowering and encouraging my team, prioritizing their well-being and personal growth, and leading by example. For me, the most important aspect of servant leadership is to ask myself: How am I serving the wider community? How am I creating value for my stakeholders?

When you embrace the principles of servant leadership, you're not just leading; you're actively listening, empathizing, and putting the needs of your team first. This approach fosters an environment where everyone, including you as a leader, can openly share their thoughts, dreams, and aspirations. In my journey, I've found that by focusing on the growth and well-being of the people and the community around me, my own passion for helping franchisees and small business owners thrive came into sharper focus. It's like uncovering a hidden gem within yourself. You start to understand what truly drives you and how you can align your business goals with your personal values.

In my opinion, servant leadership fosters a supportive environment. By putting others' needs first, you often find personal growth and a sense of fulfillment. This style of leadership can lead to stronger team bonds and a more cooperative atmosphere, which often results in a more effective and harmonious workplace. As you guide and uplift those around you, your own skills improve, and this can open doors to new professional relationships and opportunities.

While servant leadership is inherently other-focused, it's crucial to maintain a balance. I've learned the importance of also investing time in my personal growth and well-being. Regular self-reflection and setting personal goals are essential to ensure that while you serve others, you also remain true to your journey of discovering and nurturing your passion.

It helps creating a joyful workplace, fostering strong teamwork, and ensuring job satisfaction are crucial aspects. This entails demonstrating empathy, practicing humility, and prioritizing the needs of others, ultimately resulting in triumph for both individuals and the team as a whole.

Embracing servant leadership can lead to numerous personal and professional benefits. By prioritizing the needs of others and fostering a culture of support and collaboration, individuals practicing servant leadership often experience increased trust and loyalty from their team members, leading to stronger relationships and enhanced teamwork. Furthermore, practicing servant leadership can cultivate a sense of fulfillment and purpose as individuals witness the positive impact they have on the lives of others and the organization as a whole.

Servant leadership faces challenges like fatigue, undermined authority, decreased motivation, organizational misalignment, and situational inappropriateness. Servant leaders can overcome them by being self-aware, flexible, resilient, and learning-oriented. Servant leadership is hard but rewarding.

It's about listening actively to your team and understanding their needs. When you face pushback or criticism, it's vital to stay open and learn from the feedback. Regular self-reflection helps you stay aligned with your values and goals. Also, building a network of supportive colleagues can provide the encouragement needed to persist through tough times.

Overcoming the challenges of servant leadership requires commitment, self-awareness, and resilience. One key challenge is balancing the needs of others with organizational objectives and priorities. To address this, servant leaders must establish clear communication channels and set realistic expectations to ensure alignment between individual and organizational goals. By staying mindful of these challenges and actively addressing them through thoughtful leadership practices, individuals can effectively embody servant leadership principles and create positive impact in their organizations and communities.