“And in Christ you have been brought to fullness.”

Colossians 2:10

What does it feel like to truly hit your stride as a servant leader? You know about the benefits of servant leadership to other people and your organization. But what about the benefits to you?

When you “arrive” at a place where you’ve done the work, reversed how you lead, and transformed yourself into a servant leader, how do you feel?

The people I coach can tell you that you feel…full. Centered. Satisfied.

Now, that’s not to say you won’t still strive to achieve. You will, perhaps even more than before. But you’ll be completely satisfied with the way you go about that achieving.

You will have complete confidence in your way of leading and living.

Have you met people in your life who’ve attained this deep level of personal satisfaction in how they lead and live? There’s a calmness about them, isn’t there? A serenity. You can sense something fundamentally different about them, and so can others. People gravitate toward servant leaders and are inspired in their presence.

Why is that?

What is it about serving (instead of cajoling/dictating/threatening/begging) people that instills peace in your life and presence in your leadership?

To answer this question, consider your primary responsibility as a servant leader. There is one duty that’s more important than the all rest, and it’s rooted in Jesus’ Great Commission to us.

Your primary responsibility as a servant leader is to cultivate other servant leaders! To intentionally develop leaders who are ready, willing, and equipped to lead people the way God intended; with love, compassion, and resilience. The good news?

You can fulfill this responsibility more easily that you might think.

Because guess what naturally happens when you become a genuine, heartfelt servant leader? You quickly inspire others to become servant leaders, too!

When this inspiration happens – and you act on it in good faith — you fulfill not only your primary responsibility as a leader, but also as a child of God. That’s where the inner peace and riveting leadership presence come from. They’re God-given gifts to you for living out His purpose for your life.

But to receive God’s gift of a deeply satisfying life, there are specific actions you must take. Do these things, and you’ll experience the beautiful “sweet spot” of servant leadership:

1. Personal development

   – It goes without saying, but to transform yourself into a servant leader, you must sharpen your mind by the study of servant leadership. Study scripture. Look at how Jesus led. Model your personal development so that others can see the importance of thoughtful, focused improvement in their own leadership skill sets.

2. Obey God and deny self

   – Prioritizing God’s desires over your own will lead you to the understanding that He created you to be a servant leader. You will start serving others, which will be infectious to those around you.

3. Serve God and others

   – The choice to serve is just that – a choice. Setting aside personal needs, and even dreams, for meeting the needs of others is what servant leadership is all about. Multiplication starts with your selfless service.

4. Go and teach others

   – Multiplication will not happen if you don’t share your knowledge. People are not born servant leaders. It is a skill set and mind set that is learned. Set out each day to teach others the source of servant leadership and how to step into it. Constantly talk about servant leadership and model the way.

5. Build Relationships

   – Just like in sharing your faith, you will gain more traction with people when you have relationships with them. Respecting, listening and loving others will lead to enhanced relationships and improve your ability to help people become servant leaders.

6. Rely on God

   – You can’t do it on your own. The secret to servant leadership is allowing God to work through you in your service to others. The same is true for developing leaders. Don’t pressure yourself to have all the answers. Allow yourself to become a conduit for God’s grace and wisdom.

7. Be unashamed in your work

   – Time is of the essence. Be willing to be very public about your passion for servant leadership. People may never hear about it from anyone else. Be known as a servant leader and – most importantly – be open to be held accountable for a life lived for service.

In a period of ego-driven leadership, I believe our world would be a better place with more servant leaders in it. Your focus on the discipleship of servant leaders will make that happen!

And, you will directly benefit – not only at work, but in your personal life, as well.

Are you ready? What will be your first step?

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16