As humans, we are presented with a myriad of choices every day.  And it seems that the natural bent is for us to choose the things that gratify us.  We are inherently self-motivated and self-centered and naturally select the things that benefit our self-interest. 

This human condition does not paint a pretty picture, and though this is our natural bent, some of us, at differing levels, choose to look outside of ourselves to serve others.  This is where true fulfillment can be found. At the heart of this idea lives the profound quote from Jesus, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

How does this impact leading our companies, families, and life in general?  Robert Greenleaf, the founder of the modern servant leadership movement, said, “The first and most important choice a leader makes is the choice to serve, without which one’s capacity to lead is severely limited.” 

The statement “without which one’s capacity to lead is severely limited” may not be self-evident.

Is serving that important to good leadership?  Take a moment and reflect on those you appreciate in leadership.  The ones that come to my mind, and most likely yours, are the ones who invest in their team and truly care about the growth of individuals.  In fact, as I think about a few of these leaders, I grow reflective and wonder how I can be more of a servant leader.

What are the attributes of a true servant leader?  How do they act?  What do they do? 

Here are a few of my observations and aspirations as I think about servant leaders that I know and respect.

1. EXPRESS GRATITUDE – They are a pleasure to be around because they express their thankfulness constantly.  They are thankful to others for the successes that are taking place in their lives.  They praise the people around them regularly, and as a result, they are a huge encouragement to be around.
2. LISTEN INTENTLY– They truly listen to understand.  They don’t interrupt; they aren’t waiting to respond.  They truly and deeply listen to hear what you are saying and often ask questions to understand more deeply.
3. PRIOITIZE TIME SPENT – They look for opportunities to engage in person and truly get to know those around them. You can’t truly serve someone you don’t know, so spending time getting to know others is essential to servant leadership.
4. TRULY CARE ABOUT YOU – It is hard to identify this characteristic exactly. I just know that when I meet with the people I respect as servant leaders, I come away feeling like they are doing more than just trying to get something from me. I feel like they are truly invested in me as a person.
5. ARE VULNERABLE – They can express their failures and even poke fun at themselves.  In a recent meeting, one of these leaders told me about their success and yet told me in terms that took no credit for himself. He attributed the success to his team and God.  And said something like, “There is no way I could have produced this result myself.”
6. TRUST OTHERS – This is very close to vulnerability. To trust, you must be vulnerable. When I am working with a servant leader, I feel trusted and motivated. They have expressed their trust in me, and as a result, I have an even greater drive to do well, to succeed, and to move our common goal forward.
7. INSPIRE – Servant leaders are inspiring to be around. I’m thinking of a few individuals with whom I meet and always come away excited about their mission, project, or business. They often tell a story that inspires me to help their cause or to be a better leader.
8. ANCHOR IN INTEGRITY – The servant leaders I know are grounded.  They have a calmness about them.  They have done personal work in their lives to create a rhythm of success that is founded on strong personal values.  And their life aligns with those values.  They don’t just say their values; they live by them.

As I look over this list, I think, “Wow, I’ve got some work to do.” Hopefully, we are all moving in the right direction, encouraging, growing, and inspiring others daily. Let’s take up the call to lead well, with a heart of service, in our area of influence, wherever that may be.

Scott Hirschfeld

Scott Hirschfeld is the President of CTaccess, a Brookfield IT support company that has been helping businesses stop focusing on IT and getting back to doing business since 1990. Under his leadership CTaccess provides the business minded approach of larger IT companies with the personalized touch of the smaller ones. Connect with Scott on LinkedIn.