Empowering Employees Through Servant Leadership

Empowering employees is one of the most important aspects of servant leadership. It encourages individuals to take responsibility for their actions and feel a sense of ownership.

It can also promote innovation and creativity. This is especially important for organizations that rely on knowledge workers. For example, our research has found that knowledge workers who exhibit openness to new ideas benefit from servant leaders.

1. Empowering Employees to Make Decisions

One of the most important aspects of servant leadership is giving team members autonomy and trust. This involves empowering employees to make decisions that affect their work and the organization as a whole, while still providing guidance and support. It also means listening empathetically to employees and encouraging them to share their ideas and perspectives. Ultimately, servant leaders prioritize the needs of their teams and are not afraid to let them take risks to achieve goals.

Servant leadership practices are not easy to implement. This type of leadership requires leaders to be self-aware and reflective of their own motives and biases. This can be difficult, especially in high-stress or high-pressure situations.

But the benefits of servant leadership are well worth it. It has been linked to greater job satisfaction, higher ethical standards, better communication, and stronger teamwork. It has also been found to reduce turnover rates and improve productivity. Employees who feel valued by their leaders are more likely to stay at the company and give it their all.

Empowering team members can be challenging, especially if the leader is not familiar with servant leadership. But with training and practice, leaders can learn to empower their employees through servant leadership practices.

The most important aspect of servant leadership is caring for people, and this includes identifying their needs and providing them with resources to meet those needs. This can include things like offering training opportunities, supporting employees in their career progression, and allowing them to grow in their role.

It also means taking the time to listen to employee concerns and addressing them promptly. It is also important to remember that servant leadership requires a strong sense of accountability, and this can be a challenge for some leaders.

Lastly, servant leaders love the community more than they love themselves. This means that they are not concerned about protecting their status or reputation and instead focus on creating value for the community as a whole. This can be done through projects, volunteering, and even simply by displaying positive social behavior at the workplace.

2. Empowering Employees to Take Risks

Servant leaders put their team’s needs first, and they empower them to reach their full potential. They are more likely to delegate responsibility and decision-making power, which creates a sense of ownership among employees. Servant leaders also act as facilitators and coaches, encouraging their teams to be creative and innovative in their work. This leadership style promotes open communication and employee satisfaction, which is a key component to building trust and motivating your team to be successful.

Developing Future Leaders

Having a strong team of future leaders is crucial for the success of any organization. Servant leaders are known for helping their team members develop the skills and knowledge they need to take on leadership roles in the future. This can be done through mentoring and coaching, providing constructive feedback, and giving employees opportunities to lead projects or initiatives. Servant leaders also help their teams create value for the community through volunteerism and other service activities.

Encouraging Innovation and Creativity

Servant leaders encourage their team members to be creative and think outside the box when solving problems. They do this by creating a safe environment where they can express their ideas and take risks without fear of judgment. They also foster a culture of psychological safety and respect for diverse perspectives and opinions.

Empowerment Fuels Performance

Employee empowerment is a major component of servant leadership, and it can have a huge impact on employee motivation. Servant leaders encourage their employees to be creative and innovative in their work, which drives productivity and creativity. They do this by delegating responsibilities, providing feedback, and encouraging them to take risks. This enables employees to feel more empowered and motivated at work, which leads to higher levels of engagement and productivity.

However, it is important to note that a servant leader’s empowering qualities can sometimes be seen as lenient and passive by some employees. This is especially true if the leader is too focused on making sure their team members are happy and satisfied rather than focusing on achieving goals and results. This leniency can lead to some employees not reaching their full potential, or even being underperforming because they don’t have the support and guidance they need to be successful.

3. Empowering Employees to Grow

The trust built through servant leadership allows employees to be more creative, innovative, and collaborative. They're able to be more vocal and take risks. This can boost morale, increasing overall productivity. Companies that employ servant leaders often experience high customer satisfaction and loyalty. Southwest Airlines, for example, is credited with its employee-first philosophy that puts the needs of the staff before those of the customers. Another company that has been recognized for its servant leadership is The Container Store, which focuses on creating a positive work environment and empowering its team members.

Servant leaders are big-picture thinkers, encouraging their team members to look beyond the day-to-day grind and focus on what needs to be done in order to accomplish long-term goals. They also help their team members grow professionally, providing training opportunities and promoting growth. This type of leadership can be a powerful motivator, especially when combined with recognition and promotion opportunities for those who are dedicated to the mission and who demonstrate strong performance.

One possible downside of this leadership style is that it can be abused by those who see it as a means to "get ahead" or avoid hard work, especially when employees are being given a lot of leeway in terms of meeting performance goals. In addition, servant leaders are typically more lenient than traditional managers when it comes to punishment, and this can lead to some individuals not reaching their full potential due to the lack of accountability.

Ultimately, servant leadership takes time to implement. It requires an understanding of the motivations of your team and how to best empower them, which can be difficult for leaders who are used to more abrasive management styles. In addition, some organizations need to move quickly, and the servant leadership approach may not be well-suited for these types of situations.

Despite the challenges, it's important to remember that servant leadership can be a powerful tool in driving high levels of engagement and fostering innovation and creativity. The key is to be a true servant and prioritize the needs of your team while also being a model for others to follow. It's also critical to have the right metrics in place to measure progress and make adjustments as needed.

4. Empowering Employees to Lead

The goal of servant leadership is to create conditions where team members discover their own power. This is done through listening to employees, removing obstacles, and providing guidance. It also involves creating a culture of trust and psychological safety. When teams feel safe to share their ideas and take risks, they can be more productive and innovative.

Servant leaders also strive to build a strong sense of community. They believe that the community is more important than any individual or business. They are not motivated by money or recognition, but rather by a passion for the mission of their organization and the well-being of its employees. They also prioritize a healthy work-life balance, and they make sure to provide their employees with the tools they need to be successful.

It can be challenging for managers to switch to a different leadership style, especially if their teams are used to working under traditional authority. However, the benefits of servant leadership are clear and powerful. It can increase employee satisfaction, lead to greater innovation and creativity, promote a more positive work environment, and ultimately lead to higher business success.

Empowering your team members to lead is essential to the success of your company. But empowering them means giving up some of your own control. It is important to find the right balance between empowering your team and maintaining control over your organization.

The best way to empower your team is to be a model of servant leadership in your own company. Demonstrate the values and behaviors that you want to see in your team, and they will follow suit. Then, your team will be able to thrive in an environment where they can be their most authentic selves and reach their full potential. If you are ready to start taking your organization in a new direction, connect with Fast Company Executive Board to learn more about servant leadership and other strategies for growth. Our vetted membership community of senior executives, founders, and industry experts is here to help you achieve your professional goals.