Add Value
as a Leader in these 4 Areas
One of the
most elusive callings on this planet is that of a leader. General misgivings
about leaders result in managers and entrepreneurs labeling themselves as
leaders, robbing the concept of its single greatest asset – the ability to
serve! Leadership is synonymous, and one cannot talk about leadership without
talking about servanthood.
If you
still reading this after the dreaded word (servanthood) appeared in the article
– congratulations! The potential for you to be a true leader is great, but
don’t sign up to be a waiter for mankind just yet. Leadership is about adding
value to others.
The mindset
of servanthood or leadership is born from understanding three key elements:
Knowing from where you have come, knowing what’s in your hand, and knowing where
you are going. Read the full article here. These three elements, born from a
powerful vision, mixed with a healthy dose of self worth, with prevent the
leader from being a doormat, and promote true leadership from a serving heart.
The nature
of serving leadership is about adding value to others. This is contrary /
opposite to the normal selfish nature of mankind, as witnessed in the self
serving ways of most people in positions of authority or power. Leadership
shouldn’t be about advancing ourselves; it should be about advancing others.
Serving leadership is about offering value to those we lead, to those we serve.
The four
basic areas serving leaders add value to include:
1. Value Personal Development: Respecting and engaging in personal development increases your personal
worth to others. The more you grow, the more you have to offer those that you
lead. Teams cannot grow beyond the level of the leader, so you become their
limiter, or their enabler. Read a full article here. Or read 5 Areas of Growth fora Leader
2. Value Others:
Not harming others is a noble start, however, a leader seeks to intentionally
help and assist others, because of their worth. Recognizing another’s ability
and guiding them to a point where they can fulfill their God-given mission is a
powerful way to value them. If you wonder whether you value others or not – the
answer is probably not.
Valuing others is a conscious act, and will be easily recognized by
others. We are talking about offering tokens of gratitude to followers. No! We
are talking about valuing them as people, and the contributions they have to
make as leaders in their own right.
3. Value through Others: This requires you as the serving leader to go beyond just valuing
others (tall order to mere mortals), and value through them. Recognize and
understand what others value, acknowledging what is important to them.
A leader does this by listening to people’s personal values and beliefs,
then leading on the basis of what you have heard. This will require you as the
leader to be a skilled listener.
4. Value through God: This requires the serving Leader to be aware of what is important to
God, sensitive to what is important to Him, and acting accordingly. God want
the leader to respect others and to serve them.
A leader’s
attitude affects the spirits of the entire team. Being a serving leader that
adds value will earn you more respect and cooperation, and your team will
function from a positive place of efficiency and effectiveness. Isn’t that what
we want as leaders?
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