“Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.” – Fred Rogers***
Covid-19 drove millions of workers to new work locations – home! It drove worshippers to new methods of spiritual development, access and support, forcing church leaders to forge new virtual trends in advancing the message and purpose of the church. When Covid-19 with its lock downs and social distancing become a thing of the past, how will our places of worship, our workforce and the workplace look, and what kind of leaders will be needed to manage new high performing teams? As we approach the long awaited time of returning to a normal life, is your leadership ready for this new normal?
Post Covid Leadership Requirements
When employers are able to return to fully opening their doors for staff and customers and houses of worship return to full worship and service opportunities, the landscape will be different. The expectations of all involved will be altered from what it was in times past. Traditional work schedules, locations and expectations will forever be changed. Traditional worship and learning expectations will be broader. Covid-19 brought challenge, pain and grief but it also brought change. It ushered in a new era of electronic access, tools and delivery; flexibility, freedom and creativity; benevolence, social justice and racial consciousness. It doesn’t end there but it is a robust start to the conversation of what will be needed on the part of leadership to manage it and lead the people behind it.
Many will continue to want flexibility to work remotely, access spiritual growth offerings from home and to see individuals and organizations standing with those who have been marginalized in society so that all can advance and succeed. Traditional leadership as it existed in the past is just that, part of the past. It will be virtually (no pun intended with the word virtually) to put that genie back in the bottle.
The Answer May Be Servant Leadership
The phrase “servant leadership” is not new though it may periodically experience renewed interest and consideration, as I would imagine may be the case at this time in history. Though the servant as leader is an ancient concept, it was coined “servant leadership” by Robert K. Greenleaf in The Servant as Leader, an essay that was initially published in 1970. It has since gain much time and recognition.
How to Make the Change
Becoming a servant leader requires a change in perspective. There are ultimately two types of leadership extremes, Traditional Leadership and Servant Leadership. In the Traditional Leadership approach the leader sees themselves as a leader first; the one who holds the power and authority and strives to exercise that authority consistently in order to get the job done. It is a top down leadership approach and tends to be more authoritarian in nature, even though there may be elements of team participation and input present. The goal for this leader is the position and market success of the company. They lead, guide and develop others with this goal in mind.
Servant Leadership is a style of leadership that puts the people serving and the people being served, first and the leader comes last. It puts the needs of the people one leads, before the needs of the leader. Altruistic is the word that comes to mind. This leader is focused on the good of the people first and foremost. They are servant first, then leader. The servant role, however is not just in doing for others but about doing what benefits others. This leader is concerned with the growth, development and health of those they lead, making sure they are knowledgeable, well-rounded and balanced… emergent success stories that will ultimately have the greatest impact on the company in the end. Again, however, the focus is the person, not the company.
According to the teachings on servant leadership, to become a servant leader, one needs to embody and exhibit the following characteristics:
1. Listening
It goes without saying that leaders must learn how to listen; not just in a meeting when someone is speaking but also in the silence when no one is speaking. The servant leader is listening physically and mentally when people need to be heard and have something to share. Not only should the leader listen but we should teach others to listen as well. We do this in word and deed. Meaning, we state its importance and we demonstrate it also. Before the servant leader speaks, they listen to the thoughts and ideas of others, then they share their own. One should do so, without excluding the input that was just shared by others as some are known to do. The Servant leader is not dismissive of others.
2. Empathy
Showing empathy means putting ourselves in the shoes of another person, whether we have walked the paths they have traveled or not. This is a key characteristic that is necessary in leading a diverse workforce. Showing others that we can appreciate and understand their experiences and how can drastically impact their safety, security, production and advancement in an organization and in life.
I can never adequately describe the surprise… no shock, I felt years ago when my director informed me that she believed that the internal customer who frequently made my life miserable with complaints and demands, was in fact doing so on the basis of racial bias. My director advised me to confront this woman by telling her that I believed she was harassing me based upon my race and if she did not stop I would report it to both my director and hers and pursue it accordingly! Though it was not the first nor the last such battle I would have to contend with in life, to hear her say that made me feel appreciated and recognized as a person… like I mattered. No, I was not emotionally overwhelmed by it but I walked out of her office with my shoulders back and my head held high. If anything I felt an emotional calm that had been absent from my work life for close to two years. On that day, I gained an indescribable respect for my director. I felt that I was no longer invisible. I felt supported. I felt empowered. Now I could do my job, I could do the right things and make the right decisions, knowing that someone had my back.
3. Healing
Every individual needs to “be well.” The servant leader, should not be afraid to show concern and to actively prioritize the spiritual and emotional well-being of our team members. We cannot be the individuals that are so driven to get the work done that we forget about the needs of the people doing the work. A person can’t effectively serve others when their heart is broken, when they’ve lost a loved one or when their spirit is not at peace. We often overlook these things in an effort to just get the work done.
I stumbled upon the value of focusing on healing once when a man came to my office to see me. It was at my request so I’m sure he was uncomfortable, not knowing how this meeting might end. I was working in Human Resources. We had never met before. I had to meet with him to discuss his background and a possible discrepancy between information on his application and new laws that were going into effect for people working in healthcare. As he explained the information in question, he shared other things that were occurring in his life. He had made several references to his Christianity and church. After we got the business out of the way, additional dialogue revealed ongoing heartache related to the loss of a loved one; a loss he had mentioned earlier. I asked him if I could pray with him. He said yes. I prayed for him. He shed some tears, thanked me and left. Some time later (months I believe) I ran into him somewhere on campus. We greeted one another and he shared with me how surprised he had been that I was willing to put business aside and pray for him that day in my office. Though I had no idea the impact it would have on him, he stated it meant a lot and it gave him hope and peace that he desperately needed. Based upon how he felt afterward, he was convinced that not only was I sincere in my intentions to help others but he was sure that I actually had a real relationship with God because God heard that prayer. Then he thanked me (with tears in his eyes) and said he would never forget that kindness.
4. Awareness
Our self-awareness enables us to see where and how we fit in the midst of things occurring around us. We often address this in conversations about diversity and inclusion. The importance of recognizing our own beliefs, biases and blind spots is essential to leading and working with others in an inclusive productive environment.
5. Persuasion
This is not new to those who follow this blog, a servant leader is one who encourages and influences others in the direction they should go. They do not force or bully.
6. Conceptualization
The best way I see to describe this in leadership terms we can easily relate to is vision! Servant leaders have a vision for the team and where they are headed. They have a vision for how the team should look and how it feels. This leader then writes that vision and makes it plain. They communicate it in every way, making it clear so that everyone is moving in the same direction, understanding and reaching for the same goal… no confusion.
7. Foresight
Understanding what lies ahead and being prepared for it is another attribute of a servant leader. In keeping the strength and well-being of the people and the work they do in mind, one must plan ahead and put advanced planning into place. Come what may, they are prepared.
8. Stewardship
Stewardship is the ability to effectively and responsibly handle that which has been placed in one’s hands to manage and to lead. All responsibility is to be handled with care and value.
9. Commitment to the Growth of People
This characteristic speaks for itself and needs little or no explanation. The commitment to the growth of others is not accidental, in that people learn and grow as we walk by doling out information with the expectation that some will reach out and grab it. On the contrary it should be intentional, personal and meaningful.
Frequently in the church, for example, leaders get caught up in the work of the church because there is so much to be done. We have to be thoughtful and intentional in remembering why we are there and make sure we are leading, working and performing actions with the intention of helping people grow and mature into strong, purpose driven servants of God, not individuals who are dependent upon others to do all and be all.
10. Building Community
Servant leaders do not sit in the Eiffel Tower of Management peeping down upon the masses to see what is going on. They come down and walk among them, like Jesus did. They walk and talk with the people they serve, getting to know them and to be known by them as they work together to make a difference.
Closing Thoughts
Preparation is key. We are heading into a new time of life and living. As if Covid-19 was not enough, there is more to come… more thinking, more planning, more preparation and more implementation for advancement and greatness. I don’t know about you but walking the Covid Tight Rope has been filled with highs and lows. Some days, I might see the days after Covid as exciting and highly anticipated. Other days it is exhausting just to think about it because it requires mustering up the energy to get through what’s happening now and start to prepare for what is to come. The essence of leadership… preparation.
Preparation takes time. Preparation takes energy. We didn’t have time to prepare for this life-changing pandemic but we do have time to prepare for what comes afterward. Start now.