Page 16 - KZN Business Sense 10.3

THE SERVANT LEADER PARADOX

Colette Tanner, Chief as a way to achieve success
Operations Officer, in meeting organisational
DRG objectives. A community is
a collection of closely knit
individuals with common
ervant
leadership ground whether it be social,
Sis a paradox economic, or political interests.
for some. Opposed In practise servant leadership
to attracting can present a few challenges
and wielding particularly where the business
power or is accustomed to a more
an over- structured or hierarchical
burdening culture. A resistance to this
ego, a transformational leadership
servant can precipitate a challenge with
leader strives to create merit navigating an innate power
through stewardship and dynamic where the focus is on
community building. Success is authority or position power.
therefore inevitable as the leader
serves the team by recognising and A servant leader exhibits
encouraging the team’s abilities to humility through considering
achieve organisational goals. the goals of the team above
his or her own and this can
A leader has the ability to be discerned by the team as
cope with change and by irresolute and feeble. The
entrenching a vision, establishes transition to a new leadership
direction for a business. Ethical Leadership style can take time where results
Through communicating Informal leaders are powerful places serving others first are often not seen immediately,
the vision, the leader reaches in the workplace and their and above all other priorities. Research shows that servant however where a business adopts
agreement with the team and power is based on knowledge, Rather than managing the leadership boosts profits and a culture of open communication
influences the team to overcome trust, friendliness, and shared results, a servant leader focuses employee morale. This ethically and consistently cultivating the
challenges. Pivotal to leadership interests with their colleagues on creating a healthy working driven style of leading people values which realise the evidence
is influence, a leader has the and their reputation earned environment in which the team highlights where supporting the of servant leadership, can only
ability to influence a particular through delivering quality and can thrive, where evidence of employee can build influence, bring about success.
direction or the achievement of ethical outcomes. People within high employee engagement, authority, and collaboration.
a set of objectives. the organisation recognise these employee job satisfaction Ethical leadership is central In closing, I include a poem
qualities, rather than the lack of to servant leadership, ethical I believe to be powerful in its
In contrast, a manager copes and increased motivation is explanation of the servant leader.
with complexity, through title of the informal leader. An intrinsic. When an employee behaviour where there is integrity
informal leader exercises expert
formalising plans, organising, has meaning and value in the in the way things are done and A Fixer
designing and implementing the power defined as the ability workplace, there is a sense of how people are treated is the
plan and thereafter monitoring to demonstrate expertise in a security and fulfilment, which responsibility of anyone who A fixer has the illusion of being
subject or situation, regardless
the results against the plan. leads to increased productivity leads and through adhering causal. A server knows he or she
Managers use the authority of hierarchy. and ultimately reduces staff to principles of transparency, is being used in the service of
intrinsic to their position to If one were to consider the turnover. The ethos of servant openness, fairness, honesty and something greater, essentially
achieve compliance. Managers Generational theory, there are leadership is ‘take care of the accountability sets an example unknown…
implement the vision and often a myriad of generations people and the people will for others to follow and in doing We fix something specific.
strategy provided by the at play in the workplace who take care of the results’. High so cultivates a culture of ethical We serve always the something:
leader through organising and have varying influences performance teams and high- leadership across the organisation. wholeness and the mystery of
coordinating the day-to-day and expectations. Different performance cultures are born A servant leader focuses more life.
activities of the business. generations can be characterised out of servant leadership. on involving team members in
by specific historical events the everyday decision-making Fixing and helping are the work
Source of Influence that often form their values, Servant leadership is a processes of the business than a of the ego. Serving is the work of
The source of influence held perspectives, and behaviours. doctrine and set of practices more authoritative, traditional the soul.
that enhances lives in the
by the leader may be formal, Studies show that Millennials workplace and is fundamental leader would where decisions are When you help, you see life as
for example, the position the prefer a teamwork approach to building a meaningful made, and instructions delivered. weak. When you fix, you see life
person holds or line of authority over authoritative management workplace, which as a result Servant leadership skills facilitate as broken.
in the organisation. Because style. A characteristic of builds a better organisation and the connection between coworkers
management positions are millennials’ is their need to through this attracts people who at both the management and When you serve, you see life as
formalised and carry authority, build relationships, Gen Zs wish to perpetuate a meaningful employee level, building unified whole. Fixing and helping may
a person may assume a role are typically unafraid to point workplace. The traditional teams. The servant leadership cure. Serving heals.
of authority simply because out inefficiencies, recommend leader focuses on influencing axiom accentuates the needs of When I help, I feel satisfaction.
of their position in the improvements, and disengage people to achieve strategy, people in the workplace where the
organisation, however it cannot where there is a slowness to goals, financial performance, importance of frequent honest When I serve, I feel gratitude.
be automatically assumed that change. and customer satisfaction, feedback is understood by both Fixing is a form of judgment.
the person is a leader. Serving is a form of connection
Characteristics of a Leader all paramount objectives but individual and the team
Not all managers are even more so profitability and Through honest communication (Anonymous). 
A leader should be ethical,
leaders and vice versa. Non have integrity, self-awareness, delivering against shareholder and creating an environment
sanctioned leadership – the objectives. However, a servant where opinions and views are
ability to influence people courage, respect, compassion, leader demonstrating empathy, For more information please contact
in the absence of position is and resilience. A leader should humility and commitment openly shared and considered Colette Tanner,
be learning agile, show gratitude,
brings about trust not only in the
equally important as sanctioned focuses on bringing all this T: +27 (0)31 767 0625
leadership. Leaders can emerge and collaborate effectively. The about through creating an leader but in the team and the E: colette@drg.co.za
W: www.drg.co.za
significance of servant leadership
team’s ability. Servant leadership
from within a team as well environment where people are
as be formally designated to rests in its transformative the nucleus, focusing on needs, pursues the development of
lead a team. Informal leaders potential, fostering engaged work mentoring and nurturing, leadership qualities in others.
environments, cultivating trust
tend to be experienced and development and opportunities, Servant leadership strives to
knowledgeable; team members and driving sustainable success. which will bring about build a consciousness to those
gravitate to informal leaders for A servant leader is altruistic profitability and deliver against working around you and to
troubleshooting and guidance. and carries an attitude that business imperatives. create a community in employees

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