Leadership is described as “the ability of an individual or a group of individuals to influence and guide followers or other members of an organization.” There are many forms of leadership and it can be seen all around us. Politicians, CEO’s, managers, athletes, teachers, community volunteers, are all just some of the many different forms of leaders we have in everyday society. Usually, we think of leaders and think of them as holding power and being the ones that have control over others, but there is a form of leadership that bucks this traditional thinking.
Servant leadership is a form of leadership that is the opposite of traditional leadership. In servant leadership, the leader supports and serves their team/community. They listen to people and try to make changes to better suit the needs of the people, rather than creating a judgement and assuming what is best for the people. True leaders want to see their people grow as human beings, they are not only committed to production or outcomes to define their success. This form of leadership is known to create better teams, a positive environment, reduced turnover, inspire a strong culture, and help prepare future leaders. In some cases, traditional leadership is needed, as it helps to reduce the time it takes to make a decision, and keeps things clear while assigning roles and responsibilities, especially in times of crisis. Striking a healthy balance between the two forms of leadership is ideal, and will have the most positive outcomes for everyone involved.
