There is a philosophy of management I believe in called Servant Leadership. The easiest way to think about it is that the goal of a leader is to help those around them succeed rather than focus on themselves and their own aspirations.

Notice, I didn’t say manager. Anyone can be a leader, even the most junior member of the team.

One element is the giving of credit. A servant leader does not take credit for many accomplishments. They give credit and accolades to others. Not only to subordinates, but across and above. A servant leader says nice things about you and your work behind your back. A servant leader is generous with praise and credit.

Servant leaders also help the people around them progress in their career. If you happen to be a manager, this might mean you have succession planning and teach people how to do your job so they can one day replace you. If you are an individual contributor, it might mean speaking up on behalf of a peer when they are up for a promotion. It is supportive behavior and being generous with feedback and wisdom.

Radical Candor is an excellent book about giving feedback from a place of support. Great feedback is truly a gift even when it is negative. A servant leader is honest and transparent with feedback. You can be supportive even if you are giving bad news.

When a leader is in it for themselves, trying to amass power and control, it just demotivates and depresses the people around them. There is plenty wrong with the world, but I believe empathy and selflessness would make it more pleasant.

We are such weird creatures, we humans. Our brains work in ridiculous ways. It’s amazing that we accomplish anything at all. Anyway, I realized I never posted about servant leadership so I thought I should fix that.