Servant leadership is a management philosophy focusing on growth and the well-being of employees. These leaders have no interest in accumulating power, dominating conversations, or leading a team by force. They aim to push their team forward by setting direction, providing the tools and allowing task ownership. Great leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, Nelson Mandela and Dr. Martin Luther King are historical examples of servant leadership.
Characteristics of Servant Leaders
Servant leaders are great listeners who ensure their team feels comfortable coming to them with concerns. Servant therapy staff leaders are receptive to feedback and seek to understand people without being defensive or making assumptions. These leaders empathize with their staff while demonstrating concern for their well-being. There is a self-awareness in servant leaders that helps them recognize their shortcomings while striving to improve. They take a holistic approach instead of a narrow-minded one.
In therapy practices, servant leaders avoid using their authority to force others to comply. They use persuasion skills to convince others to act while building consent and compromise. They also can think beyond day-to-day realities and conceptualize goals that might seem impossible to others.
Commitment to the growth of others is something servant leaders strongly believe in. This commitment to personal growth includes professional development, taking an interest in people’s suggestions and helping laid-off workers find other employment. These leaders bring people together using their influence to create a community within a therapy organization.
Empower Your Therapy Team With Servant Leadership
This compassionate leadership style is one that leaders in therapy staffing can apply. If you want to empower your therapy team, this management style is an effective way to do it. Keep the following in mind to help you develop as a servant leader:
- Praise your team first. Always offer positive feedback and avoid dominating the spotlight when recognition happens. Hard-working therapy professionals appreciate the mention, which motivates them to perform better. Consistently compliment your team.
- Shift your mindset. Adopt a “people first” mentality and strive to be more compassionate and team-oriented. Servant leadership begins with a mindset shift. This simple change can help improve your interactions with your team.
- Allow your team to take ownership of tasks. Avoid being a micromanager. Give your employees the trust and empowerment to execute tasks and projects independently. Become a coach who supports the team when needed.
- Be an active listener. Active listening directly correlates with better leadership. Being a servant leader means being receptive to others’ opinions and feedback. Use body language and cues to demonstrate that you care about what your therapists have to say. Allow the team to participate in the decision-making process and maintain an open-door policy for feedback.
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