Hey guys, welcome! This is Val Campbell. Thanks for joining me here for Thursday Morning Leadership. I'm concluding my look at Servant Leadership Roadmap today and presenting a brief summary of the ten characteristics of servant leadership.
You know, being a servant leader requires first having the desire to serve others—this is critical. One characteristic I really like best? It can't be faked. You have to be authentic.
Characteristic #1: Listening
To be a good servant leader, you must know how to listen. Servant leaders don't give orders like a typical boss. They first listen to their people's concerns and suggestions, allowing them to be involved. That’s a key difference between a boss and a servant leader.
Good leaders ask questions—great questions, like:
- What are your goals?
- What do you want to achieve?
- How can I help you?
Characteristic #2: Empathy
A servant leader must be empathetic. But first, you’ve got to listen—without listening, empathy can’t truly take place. You need to connect with the people you lead, understand what they're feeling, and relate to them. This requires strong people skills.
Ask:
- What are their challenges?
- What are their struggles?
- How can you help them?
Characteristic #3: Healing
This isn’t a term we hear often, but it’s about resolving issues and conflict. Servant leaders must have healing qualities—but first, your own life must be in order. If your life is a mess, it’s hard to effectively help others.
You play a role in helping people solve problems while looking out for the team’s welfare. You’re not a therapist, but you must help people navigate emotional issues without getting entangled.
Characteristic #4: Awareness (Self-Awareness)
Shakespeare said, "To thine own self be true." As a leader, you must be conscious of yourself—your values, ethics, and how they apply in different situations. Before tackling a problem, you need to view it from multiple angles.
Characteristic #5: Conceptualization (Vision)
This is about having a vision and casting it. Every servant leader must be able to dream. If you don’t have a vision of where you’re going, how can you lead others there?
Everything starts with vision.
Characteristic #6: Foresight
Closely tied to vision, foresight allows leaders to see beyond the present and anticipate the future. With this perspective, you can assess different outcomes and make informed decisions.
Example: My mentors, Adam and Ashley Rigor, took our 3LE team global because they had—and cast—a clear vision.
Characteristic #7: Persuasion
Servant leaders don’t coerce—they convince and influence. John Maxwell says, "Leadership is influence." This differs from traditional boss-employee dynamics where orders are given and followed.
Servant leaders influence their team toward a direction, rather than relying on authority.
Characteristic #8: Stewardship
This is about commitment to serving others first. Stewardship means taking responsibility for your team’s actions and performance—and being accountable for their role in the organization.
Leaders take responsibility. You must also lead by example, demonstrating the values and behaviors you expect from others. No "Do as I say, not as I do."
Characteristic #9: Commitment to Growth
A servant leader is committed to their people’s growth—both personal and professional. The focus isn’t just "Did you get the job done?" but "Have my people become better from this?"
This requires listening and empathy to understand their goals and help them achieve them.
Characteristic #10: Building Community
Servant leaders create community within their organizations. At 3LE Leadership, we’ve done this exceptionally well.
It’s about looking beyond your own goals to support others and the organization’s mission. This builds lasting bonds and encourages team members to take ownership of their work.
Final Thoughts
My hope is that this series has helped you better understand servant leadership—its role in business and how it fosters growth for you and your team.
If I can be of further service or you have questions, feel free to reach out. Hit the Vote button, and connect with me on social media.
God bless, and have an awesome Thursday!