4 Roles of True Leadership: The Servant Leader

It doesn’t sound too generally appetising does it, to encourage people to ‘servant’ leadership? But, if there’s one thing I have learned throughout my time involved in both industry and Christian ministry (and this also applies within the family), it’s the paradoxical nature of leadership--the best leaders are also the best servants.

The best leaders serve, they are not served.

I see servant leadership characterised as at least a four-fold role:

As Catalyst

The catalyst gets things going. A catalyst is “an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action.”[1] The servant leader spends himself or herself to start things; they’re change agents.

This takes courage, sacrifice and especially vision to recognise, act on, and adapt to the opportunities presented.

As Facilitator

To facilitate means to “makes things easy” or to “help bring about.” The servant leader knows the objective and creatively and innovatively assists the team achieve the goals in order to get there.

They facilitate and introduce approaches and solutions, but do not always need to be part of actually bringing it about. In other words, they can step back and allow others to flourish.

As Coach

Again, going to a dictionary definition, a coach is “one who instructs or trains.” As a coach they enable and empower individuals, the team, and other stakeholders.

They urge on and encourage good performance and provide excellent, constructive and considered feedback, strengthening the cause.

As Exemplar

True and effective leadership is nothing if not an example of how to lead people who need leadership i.e. leading those who would follow. People who would follow do not want to or do not know how to lead.

Exemplars of leadership step into the breach and provide what others, in the final analysis, are reluctant to do. They’re not only fine examples of how to lead but they’re also fine examples of how to serve to.

Servant leaders are found pure and worthy through the process of time. If a leader cannot serve they generally will not last.

The epitome of leadership is none other than Christ himself. He said,

“... whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” –Mark 10:43b-45 (NRSV).

True leaders who last the journey of leadership are givers and not takers.

Copyright © 2008, S. J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

[1] All definitions are from the Merriam-Webster dictionary.