Pastor Welcome Thamsanqa Mlungisi Dlalisa
If a business does not have good leadership, it stagnates and ultimately fails. It all depends on the type and quality of leadership.
Last week we dealt with the subject of ethical leadership. This week I continue on the subject of leadership; however, I am now focusing strictly on “servant leadership”. This type of leadership style is very old yet it is not adequately used by our managers, leaders and entrepreneurs. Through this article, I will define and recommend practical steps on how to implement this style of leadership.
The concept of “Servant Leadership” was first started or discovered by Robert K. Greenleaf. In his writings, he defines servant leadership as “servant first” type of leadership as compared to “leader first” type of leadership. Therefore this means that the servant leader is a servant first. It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, before leading. That person is sharply different from one who is a leader first. Those who are leaders first tend to develop a ‘boss mindset’ and this shows in how they manage their people. Therefore the leader-first and the servant-first are two extreme leadership types.
A servant leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. While traditional leadership generally involves the accumulation and exercise of power by one at the ‘top of the pyramid,’ servant leadership is different. The servant leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible. Most of us know or have heard about people like former president Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa and, of course, Jesus Christ who is the greatest leader of all time, to name but a few. Why is that the case? The reason is that they were all servant leaders who served others, placing their needs first – and as a result the world esteemed them and gave them positions of prominence. Such leaders think of the people and act with humility.
Entrepreneurs or leaders in general who have adopted this style of leadership have achieved and continue to achieve great things, because people who feel their needs matter to their leader tend also to prioritise the needs of their leader or business in return. This means if you lead like this, the people you lead will put the interests of your business ahead of their personal greed or individual needs. Here are some of the benefits of leading as a servant leader:
1. Less theft and corruption in your business
Once people see that you care, they will not steal from your business. They will act with integrity and honesty towards your business. The people will not need any policing from outside but will be intrinsically motivated. We all know that corruption kills business, both in the public and the private sector. How you counter this problem effectively is through servant leadership. We have seen how citizens always want to hold on to servant leaders such as those I have mentioned above.
2. Less absenteeism or sick leave
Research has shown that unhappy staff always book off sick. If you ask them, they often point at how they are poorly treated by their managers and leaders. The treatment affects their motivation level and morale and translates into high levels of sick leave.
3. High levels of motivation and morale
Where staff feel they are respected by the organisation and their leader, they have high levels of motivation and morals. Once you keep levels of motivation high, this will keep your productivity levels up.
4. More client referrals from your staff
I have seen instances where employees try to take business from their employers by enticing clients away from their employer. However, I have also seen organisations that are getting client referrals and new sales directly from staff referrals. These referrals come as a direct result of servant leadership. People tend to feel that they and their employer organisation are one and they actively contribute to the growth of the business and do not wait for the sales team.
These are just some of the benefits of being a servant leader and not ‘the boss’.
So servant leadership is one of those foundations that are critical for running a successful and sustained business.
In order to help the entrepreneurs and the youth of Tembisa to implement what we are learning via these articles, I have set up what I call the JOSEPH ACHIEVERS MENTORING (JAM) programme. The programme is based on Joseph in the Bible, who rose to prominence despite his background. I am encouraging all Tembisa residents to join. This programme is aimed at supporting all the residents of Tembisa but it targets mainly young entrepreneurs, young professionals, university students and high school learners. It offers a range of support initiatives including career guidance, training and mentoring. Many have enrolled for the programme and are receiving business management training and mentoring. I challenge you to enroll for JAM in order to propel your life or your business to new heights. To register for JAM, send an email to dlalisa.rhi@gmail.com or call the numbers below.
For more information, contact Pastor WTM Dlalisa on 083 395 1165.
