Fighting the Leadership Pedestal: Embracing Servant Leadership

Throughout my leadership journey, I have found that as leaders, we often find ourselves placed on a pedestal, elevated by the expectations and perceptions of those we lead. 

In my experience, this leadership pedestal can create a sense of separation, and can act as an unintentional barrier between us and the folks we lead. 

While it can be flattering and maybe even addictive to be viewed as a figure of authority and respect, this elevation can hinder our ability to connect, understand, and lead effectively. 

To combat this, years ago, I started utilizing the principles of servant leadership, which emphasize humility, empathy, and a commitment to the growth and well-being of our team members.

The Leadership Pedestal: A Double-Edged Sword

It’s true that being on a pedestal can have its advantages. It comes with recognition, influence, and the ability to drive change. 

However, it can also lead to isolation and detachment from the realities faced by our teams.

When leaders are perceived as infallible or distant, it can create an environment where team members hesitate to share their challenges, offer feedback, or contribute ideas. 

This not only stifles innovation but also undermines trust and collaboration. 

And for those who see themselves as infallible and use the pedestal as a weapon of positional authority, it can lead to hostility and a toxic work environment for those they lead. 

Embracing Servant Leadership

Servant leadership flips the traditional leadership model on its head. 

Instead of focusing on the leader's power and positional authority, it emphasizes serving others, fostering a culture of collaboration, and prioritizing the needs of the team. 

Here are some key principles I use to help fight the leadership pedestal and embrace servant leadership:

1. Humility: Leading with a Servant’s Heart

I have found that humility is the cornerstone of servant leadership. 

It involves recognizing that leadership is not about personal accolades or being the smartest person in the room. 

Instead, it’s about lifting others up, recognizing their contributions, and being open to learning from them. 

By showing humility, we can break down barriers and create an environment where team members feel valued and respected. 

And by showing humility, we can start to lay the groundwork for establishing psychological safety for our team members. 

2. Empathy: Understanding and Relating to Your Team

I have found that empathy involves putting yourself in others' shoes, understanding their perspectives, and showing genuine concern for their well-being and about what’s important to them. 

As leaders, practicing empathy helps us connect with our teams on a deeper level. 

It encourages open communication, fosters trust, and allows us to address issues more effectively. 

When our team members feel heard and understood, they are more likely to be fully engaged and motivated.

3. Active Listening: Valuing Every Voice

As someone who lives with ADHD, active listening is a skill that I am constantly working to improve. 

However, it is vitally important and is a powerful tool in servant leadership. 

It involves fully focusing on the speaker, understanding their message, and responding thoughtfully. In fact, I make it a point to close my laptop, and take notes by hand when I am actively listening to my folks. This helps me tune in on what they are saying and assists me with retention of the conversation. 

Importantly it helps me show that I value their input and am committed to their success. 

4. Empowerment: Enabling Others to Act

I have found that empowering team members means giving them the authority, resources, and support they need to succeed. 

It’s about trusting them to make decisions, encouraging their growth, celebrating their achievements, and helping them recover from their failures. 

When we empower others, we create a sense of ownership and accountability, leading to higher levels of engagement and performance. 

This approach also reduces the team's dependency on me as the leader, fostering a more resilient and autonomous team. 

In other words, enabling others to act fights the leadership pedestal while simultaneously fighting decision-making bottlenecks. 

5. Transparency: Building Trust Through Openness

This one is huge for me as a leader. 

Transparency in leadership involves being open and honest about decisions, challenges, and successes. 

My team will not always agree with our decisions. However, it is vital that they understand and trust my decision-making process.

To accomplish this I share as much non-confidential information as possible and involve my team as much as possible in my decision-making process. 

Transparency builds trust, as team members feel informed and included. 

Transparency also creates a culture of accountability, where everyone is aware of their roles and responsibilities.

6. Commitment to Growth: Investing in Your Team’s Development

As a servant leader I am deeply committed to the growth and development of my team members. 

This involves providing opportunities for learning, offering constructive feedback, and supporting career advancement. 

I have found that by investing in my team's development, I am not only helping to enhance their skills and capabilities but I am also demonstrating my commitment to their long-term success.

Breaking Down the Pedestal

I have discovered that to fight the leadership pedestal, we must be intentional in our actions and mindset. Here are practical steps I use to help integrate servant leadership into my daily practice:

• Engage in Self-Reflection: I regularly assess my leadership style and its impact on my team. I ask myself if I am creating an environment of openness and trust?

• Seek Feedback: I actively solicit feedback from my team members and act on it. 

• Model Servant Leadership: Lead by example. Show humility, empathy, and a commitment to serving others in every interaction.

• Foster a Collaborative Culture: Encourage teamwork and create opportunities for team members to contribute and lead.

• Celebrate Successes Together: Recognize and celebrate the achievements of the team. This reinforces a culture of appreciation and collective success.

Let’s Wrap IT Up

Fighting the leadership pedestal is an ongoing journey that requires dedication, self-awareness, and a genuine desire to serve others. By embracing the principles of servant leadership, we can create a more inclusive, engaged, and high-performing team. 

Remember, true leadership is not about being on a pedestal but about lifting others up and empowering them to achieve.