POTOMAC, Md.–Being a “servant leader” can lead to “incredible results,” but there’s a catch, according to one person.
Writing on Inc.com, Jim Schleckser, CEO of the CEO Project, noted that “a servant leader has become popular lately as it is a highly humanistic approach. The catch is that while many people self-identify as servant leaders, they don't really qualify for the title. So, the question becomes: How do you know if someone is a servant leader or not?”
The answer, said Schleckser, can be found in a five-person quiz that helps separate the true servant leaders from the pretenders. The quiz involves asking oneself the following five questions:
Moral Love
“What we mean by moral love is if you have a deep caring for your employees. Do you feel their pain? Do you celebrate the same kind of joy with them? Do you love them the same way you might love a friend?” wrote Schleckser. “The point is that servant leaders care very deeply for their employees.”
Humility
A humble person doesn't need to act like a doormat, he said.
“This is about someone who can keep their ego in check and not get in the way of using data and facts to make decisions,” Schleckser stated. “When the organization has success, it's also not a credit solely to the leader--it's about sharing the success with the entire team.”
Altruism
Servant leaders are givers and they put the needs of others before their own needs, according to Schleckser.
“There's a phrase from the military that says, ‘Leaders eat last.’ Servant leaders prioritize their people as well as the needs of the people in the communities in which they operate,” he wrote. “They're also willing to share the rewards, perhaps through generous donations inside the community or by sharing a generous portion of the company's profits as a bonus with the employees. One firm I worked with had the employees donate 10% of company profits to charities they thought were important every year.”
Vision
A servant leader has a clear vision of the future and where the organization is headed, Schleckser said. “They are also able to get everyone inside the organization aligned with that same direction. They communicate an exciting and powerful vision that makes people want to participate and make it happen. That's how they can help ensure that everyone reaches the same destination, together.”
Trust
Servant leaders are deeply trusted by others inside the organization, according to Schleckser.
“They have a strong moral and ethical compass. They will never violate ethical standards with the goal of simply increasing performance. People trust that when a servant leader says something, their word becomes their bond.”
Not For Everyone
According to Schleckser, servant leadership is a powerful concept, and it generates results.
“But it's not an approach that works for everyone. It's hard to be consistent, for instance, on all five of these characteristics,” he stated. “But for those of you who can embrace these five aspects and remain comfortable in your own skin, you will find people who are ready to follow you into the future, and find success along the way.”