I am going to provide you the “SECRET” to servant leadership today.
There is a lot written about leadership everyday. I read minimally 6 blogs a day on leadership, to continue to sharpen my focus and understanding of effective leadership. This is the 124th Blog I have written on servant leadership. But I have never revealed my “SECRET” until today.
But before I do, I wanted to give you some additional context, as to why today.
In the last week I have been asked numerous times about practices I use to effectively help leaders to lead at a higher level. I am currently teaching our 3rd and 4th Year Leadership Roundtable Groups on the “Coach Approach” to servant leadership.
Taking the “Coach Approach” is a very different mindset than most leaders are used to. It is not just a methodology; rather it is a way of life. A leader that lives their life in this manner:
- Sets their own agenda aside and gets out of the way so others can grow
- Creates partnering relationships in an environment of trust
- Creates discovery instead of solutions
- Listens
- Encourages others
- Lives their life as a model of their own high standards
- Celebrates
Just as most of the servant leadership principles that I have shared in the past, these practices of the “Coach Approach” of leadership are not easy to maintain as a matter of course. It takes a significant amount of intentionality and accountability to live your life in this manner.
Which leads me to the “SECRET” of being a successful servant leader and coach. My secret, and what I lean on every day, in fact continually throughout each day, is:
PRAYER
Without asking for God’s guidance, strength, wisdom, and discernment I could not begin to be effective in any of these areas.
Before I get in front of anyone in a training session I ask for God’s guidance to bring the words that will provide the necessary instruction for the completion of His will in this particular setting.
Before every coaching session that I conduct, I ask God to clear my head of my agenda, and focus on the agenda of the person I am coaching, and help me to partner and listen at a level that will allow me to help them advance their agenda in an accelerated fashion.
This is my “SECRET”, what is your secret to effective servant leadership and coaching?
Mark
Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Psalm 31:3
Have you started the #35DaysOfEncouragement Challenge? Its not too late, check it out HERE.
Very well said, Mark. This is an excellent description of Servant Leadership. I especially love, “Creates discovery instead of solutions.” And as far as your secret, well, I kind of had that one figured out about you already. Thank you for this beautiful post.
Thanks so much for your comments Dan! You are so right. If we as leaders stay curious and help create discovery, much better solutions will surface and we help others advance their skill and development. Thanks for the encouragement today!
Great post Mark. I 100% agree. I will sometimes replace the word coaching with the phrase, “powerful conversations approach.” I find leaders avoid the word “coaching.”
“Powerful conversations approach”. Love it Jeff! An effective coach and servant leader is a master at powerful questions and conversations. Thanks so much for weighing in on this important topic. And thanks for all you do in equipping leaders to build healthy organizations!!
I’ve never thought of prayer in this context before but now that you have my attention, it’s becoming clear. I pray so much I’m pretty sure when I get to heaven God will tell me I about wore him out. I’ve known the key to success in life is my relationship with Jesus Christ and in some aspects I’ve had success. Until the air I breathe is celestial, I will never stop praying or stop becoming who God designed me to be. My biggest problem is choices and priorities in the land of free will and opportunity. I guess that’s why some were made to be coaches.