Servant Leadership
Lead by serving others' growth and success first.
Explanation
Robert Greenleaf's philosophy flips traditional leadership: instead of accumulating power and having others serve you, you serve others to help them succeed. This approach builds stronger teams because people feel genuinely supported rather than just managed. It's about developing people, not just directing them.
Real-World Example
Traditional leader: 'What can you do for me?' Servant leader: 'How can I help you succeed?' Traditional: Takes credit for team success. Servant: Gives credit to team, takes responsibility for failures. Traditional: Hoards information and decisions. Servant: Shares information and develops decision-making skills in others.
How to Apply
Ask team members: What obstacles can I remove for you? What skills do you want to develop? How can I better support your goals? Focus on their success, not your own visibility. Make decisions that benefit the team long-term, even if it doesn't benefit you short-term. Measure success by how well your people perform when you're not there.