The 10 Characteristics of Servant Leadership

It wouldn't be the Christmas season without enjoying one of the various stage or screen adaptations of Dicken's classic, "A Christmas Carol!" In it, we see the main character, Ebenezer Scrooge, transformed from a bitter, self-serving miser into the consummate servant leader. Why is it that this story always warms our hearts? Could it be that in our daily lives we so often experience the antithesis of servant leadership?

We only need to look to the recent corporate scandals (ie, Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme), egotistical behavior by professional athletes, or any number of reality TV shows to see that selfish, insolent behavior is prevalent and maybe even pervasive in our culture. It's pretty easy to spot the "Scrooges" in our personal lives too, like the driver who cut you off in traffic this morning or the co-worker who's only "looking out for number one." Accordingly, examples of caring, servant behavior are a refreshing breath of fresh air and a gentle reminder of the way things should be ... and the way we should be.

Like Ebenezer Scrooge, maybe this Christmas season is a good time for a little self-evaluation and possibly some character transformation of our own?

Servant-leadership is a way of being in relationship with others. The servant-leader is servant first. It begins with the feeling that one wants to serve. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. He or she is sharply different from the person who is leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions.

The concept of servant-leadership is increasingly viewed as an ideal leadership form to which untold numbers of people and organizations aspire. Servant-leadership seeks to involve others in decision making, is strongly based in ethical and caring behavior, and it enhances the personal growth of workers while improving the caring and quality of organizational life.

Ten Characteristics of a Servant Leader:

1. Listening: a deep commitment to listening intently to others.

2. Empathy: accepting people and recognizing them for their special and unique spirits.

3. Healing: the healing of relationships is a powerful force for transformation and integration.

4. Awareness: general awareness, and especially self-awareness.

5. Persuasion: a reliance on persuasion, not positional authority, in making decisions within an organization.

6. Conceptualization: the ability to look beyond short-term operational goals and dream great dreams.

7. Foresight: understanding the lessons from the past, the realities of the present, and the likely future consequences of decisions.

8. Stewardship: a commitment to serving the needs of others and considering the greater good of society.

9. Building community: seeking to identify some means for building community among those who work within the organization.

10. Commitment to the growth of people: a belief that people have an intrinsic value beyond their tangible contributions as workers and a commitment to the growth of each and every individual within the organization.

The best test for servant leadership is: do those served grow as persons; do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants?