Servant leadership is a type of leadership philosophy that makes it the goal of everyone in positions of authority to serve those who report to them. This is different than traditional leadership strategies where the leader’s primary goal is to make money or other goals for the company. Of course, when done properly, servant leadership will still lead to a successful business in almost all cases. The modern concept of servant leadership was developed by Robert K. Greenleaf in an essay he published in 1970. This essay was entitled, “The Servant as Leader.”
Customer Facing Employees are the Main Priority
One of the main things that sets this form of leadership apart is the fact that employees who are customer facing should be the priority. In traditional situations they are considered the lowest members of a team. Since customer facing employees are the ones that drive sales and contribute most directly to the success of the business, making them a priority is a good idea.
Experts have found that when customer facing employees are happy, they are more likely to be highly motivated to succeed. This translates into them helping more customers, thus bringing in more money to the company. Servant leadership is an extremely effective way to improve the morale of these employees, and therefore, improve the bottom line.
Happier Employees | Happier Customers | Happier Community
When implemented properly, studies have shown that servant leadership can have a very positive impact on the lives of employees. They are happier with their jobs, and have improved mental health as well. This leads to customers being treated better, which improves their lives. In the end, this also contributes to a happier and healthier community. Taking the time to understand the servant leadership philosophy, and then truly following it throughout the workplace, is not as easy as it sounds. When done correctly, however, people at every level can benefit greatly.
