Command and Control vs. Servant Leadership
The rise of the servant leader is due to a shift away from top-down managerial thinking. Not only are employees empowered, but a new focus on the customer means feedback has multiple pathways into an organization—and many new couriers of that information. So, what is a servant leader?
Servant leadership is a desire to put others first: employees, customers, community.
Command and control management views people as objects, is motivated by control and profit, and insists that people follow the rules. But servant leadership views people as potential, is motivated by growth and impact, and insists that people surpass themselves.
Does it really make a difference? Yes! Employee participation, autonomy, and productivity go together.
“Productivity gains in truly self-managed work environments are at a minimum 35% higher than in a traditionally managed organization.” –Margaret J. Wheatley (Finding Our Way)
There are 10 important characteristics of a servant leader:
- Listening: Seek to identify and clarify the will of the group. Listen with you whole self to what is said (and not said). Spend time reflecting on this.
- Empathy: Seek to understand situations from others’ points of view.
- Healing: Everyone is broken in some way, which affects their behavior and attitude. Share the journey to wholeness (yours and theirs) with them.
- Awareness: ...
