The Acronym Model of SERVANT Leadership®️
It took me too long to discover servant leadership. It’s taking too long for others to discover the concept as well. Simply put, servant leadership is authentic leadership. If you’re not serving others, you’re not leading.
The problem is, most definitions of servant leadership are difficult to understand or share. Therefore, to increase awareness and advocacy I created a more simple definition, using the acronym S.E.R.V.A.N.T.
COMPILATION:
This acronym is not just another model for servant leadership though. Instead, it is a compilation of the best leadership models – including many focused on servant leadership. In fact, it’s based on my 20+ years studying servant leadership. I compiled the thoughts of other great servant leadership advocates into an easier to remember model.
The ACRONYM Model of SERVANT-Leadership®
The Acronym Model of SERVANT Leadership®️ defines servant leadership as:
Selfless
Selflessness is about putting the needs of others before your wants. To lead effectively, you must serve many stakeholder groups and their needs should be your priority. If you’re not serving others, you are self-serving and that is not leadership. Learn more about Selflessness…
Empathetic
Forget their shoes. In order to lead people, you need to know what it feels like to walk a mile in their muddy boots. Even if you’ve never been in their position, you should understand their greatest challenges. This is why corporate leaders, who distance themselves from those they serve, lose the commitment of their people. Leaders who lose the ability to empathize lose the ability to lead. Learn more about Empathy…
Resolute
The resolve of a leader is often overlooked in other servant leadership models, yet it is a critical attribute of effective servant leaders. If leaders lack resolve they tend to become too focused on a single stakeholder group. Like shelter in a storm, the unwavering resolve of a leader is shelter to the team. Learn more about Resolve…
Virtuous
People demand virtuous leaders. Nothing undermines a leader’s mission faster than a failure of character. Stakeholders expect leaders who represent what is best in all of us. The well-rounded leader is one with strong virtues. Read more about Virtuous…
Authentic
Authentic leaders are the same person in public and private. To serve others effectively, you must be transparent about actions and intentions. If you want loyalty and commitment from others, stakeholders must know that you are candid, sincere about your intentions, and opposed to practicing dirty politics. If a follower is uncertain about your intent, they will not deliver their best. Learn more about Authenticity…
Nonpartisan
Great leaders are receptive to new ideas from anyone, anywhere, almost any time. For your organization to thrive, you must always be on the lookout for new ideas. This is why servant leaders must be open-minded and willing to be vulnerable to their people. The people closest to the problem are often the ones best prepared to find a solution—not the senior executive, who hasn’t been on the front lines in a decade. Read more about being Nonpartisan…
Thorough
Servant Leaders maximize the sustainability of results. They do this by being thorough. A common failure of executives today is an emphasis on short-term results without regard for the long-term costs. This trade-off, to make themselves and their results look great while pushing the costs and impact downstream, weakens institutions. In contrast, servant leaders are extremely thorough. Learn more about Thorough…
If you’re interested in learning more about servant leadership, sign up for my the course: SERVANT-Leadership 101. In that course, we touch on this acronym while also covering the history, current examples and more. Until next time, remember, keep serving!
Question: What principle of servant leaders do you think is most important?
