📺 Stream EntrepreneurTV for Free 📺

Leading as a Servant Leading isn't a top-down exercise. Using the concept of Servant Leadership can help you better connect with your employees

By Sandi Krakowski

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

We live in a world where the chase for power is increasing. Someone is always getting thrown under the bus so another person can get ahead. The "top of the food chain" philosophy that has infected our workforce and leadership has thrived on the accumulation of power and practices to get ahead.

Yet when all is said and done, have we really gotten ahead by this change?

There is a better way. It's called Servant Leadership, and it can be applied in workplaces and homes. It is an act of faith, best defined by coming alongside others, leading by example and helping the people around and under you. Using it allows you to go further in all areas of life, rather than pursuing positional leadership that dominates and dictates your employees.

These are old-fashioned values, relying on the keys of serving others: listening, having empathy and working in a culture that upholds a commitment to the growth of the people while simultaneously growing the company.

Related: Why Faith Belongs In Your Workplace

When we use our faith to empower people to be their best self in the workplace, we in turn empower the corporation. We can't keep hiring people who don't care about their work and we can't keep leading people by executive level "breast feeding and diaper changing."

Love, and leading with a servant's heart, is something we must be committed to. It's going to take humility to see lessons in the workforce that can help us improve rather than constantly trying to protect ourselves from anything that causes tension.

One note: This takes a personal, as well as professional, commitment. Our personal lives always mesh into our corporate lives and we can't keep acting like they don't. That's why faith at work will work if it's working at home first. That's why unbelief at work destroys, because it's been killing our personal lives as well.

Related: Setting Boundaries To Be a Better Leader

So, how do we apply the principle of Servant Leadership?

Do the work. Be willing to go to the root of things and do whatever it takes to become your best self and serve those around you with love. We can't keep believing that it's impossible to teach an old dog new tricks. Motivate the dog properly, and it's amazing how fast they'll change. Just try giving an old dog steak to reinforce a new "trick' and see if it works.

Learn to listen. In my career as a copywriter and digital-media expert, one of my core competencies has been the ability to listen to what the marketplace is asking for and then to give it to them in a very unique way, driving customers to urgently make a change. We can do this as well in our servant-leader lifestyle by just taking the time to listen. Don't tell me you don't have time. Everyone has 24 hours in a day. Make time. Evaluate the things that you say are important and make a commitment to listening at home, at work and even to yourself, the things you're saying all day, and make it a priority to get really good at this.

Stop trying to do things you're no good at. Stewardship is a principle of servant leadership many forget. We need to learn to steward, manage and govern what we've been given. Don't do the things you're not good at. Get someone else to do them. Manage well your responsibilities because authority in what we do comes from responsibility. Get masterful at what you know how to do and you'll not only enjoy your life and career more, you'll increase your value to those around you. When we add value to everyone we encounter, we all win.

Learn to adapt. Things are changing drastically and speedily in the workplace. Social media is a dominant means of communicating, and we can't keep acting like it's not important. It's either helping your organization or destroying it. Another set of rules when your employees can and can't tweet is not going to cut it. Listen to why they turn to Twitter during work hours in the first place! Maybe your next marketing campaign will get some valuable insight and you'll get to know your staff better.

Our personal lives are intertwining with our corporate lives. No way around it. We can't keep separating our lives as if we're compartmentalized robots. Strong people make strong leaders and strong leaders do better in the workplace when they work on all areas of their life. Lead by serving.

Related: How to Let Go of Employees With Love and Dignity

Sandi Krakowski

CEO and Founder, A Real Change International

Sandi Krakowski is a Digital Media Marketing Expert noted by Forbes as a Top 20 Women Social Media Influencer and a Top 50 Social Media Power Influencer. Sandi is known in the marketplace for living an outrageous life, giving to many causes, writing, cooking and enjoying her family while serving over 2 million clients. She has a historic trackrecord of building an online social media presence with more than 700,000 clients connected to her in under 19 months. But the core of who Sandi is is revealed in her powerful teaching on faith, belief and the power to #BEMORE in all areas of life. You can find her at: http://www.arealchange.com 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Career

This 'Cutting-Edge' Strategy Used By Meta and Google Is Helping Leaders Keep Young Employees Motivated

Archer Chiang, founder and CEO of Giftpack, breaks down the method that can improve results and retention.

Growing a Business

AI Marketing Is Flooding Social Media. Here's How to Make Sure You Don't Get Lost in the Robotic Noise.

Content overload from AI is the new normal. Marketing guru Mari Smithen shares strategies for navigating the AI revolution and getting your messaging across.

Franchise

After Decades of Hard Work, This Couple Is Living the Entrepreneurial Dream. Here's How They Achieved Generational Wealth.

Nadine and James Middleton's journey shows what can happen when hard-working people are matched with the right franchise.

Business Ideas

How This One Customer Service Hack Can Transform Your Business

Instead of examining all the options and offerings to add, consider what you should remove, redesign, and eliminate.