Management approach ‘turns organizational chart upside down’
North County entrepreneur Art Barter has a unique approach to his business: servant leadership.
"It requires leaders to think more about others than themselves," he explains. "It turns the organizational chart upside down. I now have a whole organization I can serve. My employees don't report to me; I report to them."
Barter is owner and chairman of Datron World Communications, Inc. in Vista and CEO and president of Servant Leadership Institute (SLI) in Carlsbad. Founded in 2009, SLI is a leadership training resource center created by Barter to serve and help grow leaders determined to make a positive difference in their organization and community. SLI helps self-centered leaders become more selfless leaders.
As a result of often being asked how to implement servant leadership, Barter and a small group of experienced leaders developed and wrote the “Boots on the Ground” implementation guidebooks to provide proven and practical methods for servant leadership development. For the past 10 years, these servant leaders have been involved in the transformation of Datron from a traditional power model to a servant-led model. They have lived the experience firsthand, beginning with Datron's inception of servant leadership in 2004, progressing through years of implementation, and continuing the ongoing work of transformation today.
The just-released "Boots on the Ground" guidebooks are designed to educate and equip individuals and organizations for their servant leadership journey. Each booklet draws on real-life examples from Datron's servant leadership transformation. Practical examples and insights on how servant leaders handle day-to-day common challenges and obstacles are highlighted as experts reveal what it takes to change a culture.
Working together with Datron managers, members of SLI's writing and development team helped nurture Datron's transformation through small group meetings, behavioral standards, 360-degree peer assessments, succession planning and training with renowned leadership experts such as John Maxwell, Ken Blanchard, John Izzo and Stephen M.R. Covey.
Focus on Servant Leadership
AT&T executive Robert Greenleaf launched the modern servant leadership movement in corporate America in 1968, noting that servant leadership begins with "the natural feeling that one wants to serve." Since then, this method of combined leadership and stewardship that maximizes profits, people, and the planet has transformed corporate cultures around the world. In addition to Datron, well-known organizations that have successfully implemented servant leadership include Southwest Airlines, TD Industries, WD-40, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Nordstrom, Toro Company, Zappos and Starbucks.
Servant leadership is a smart leadership approach with a moral imperative to lead for the sake of others. Great leaders model behaviors that equip and inspire others toward individual and community greatness. They do not see their employees as tools, but as humans with dignity who they can empower to make a difference.
"Servant leadership has been called the most successful leadership strategy in overcoming lackluster employee performances, poor financial results, and executive self-interests," Barter says. "Our goal is to challenge traditional perceptions of leadership and teach a smarter way to lead that truly makes a difference in our world."
SLI resources include many field-tested publications, formal training programs, coaching, keynote speakers, and conferences and workshops featuring well-known leadership experts.
SLI's 2014 Winter Conference will take place at the Omni Hotel in downtown San Diego from February 3-5. The annual conference, Changing the Game, will include leadership experts and bestselling authors Covey and Olivia McIvor; leaders (game changers) from Kindred Hospitals and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen; and other special guests to be announced. The conference will also feature a special team-building event at PETCO Park.
Visit www.servantleadershipinstitute.com, to order the guidebooks and get general information about servant leadership or call 855-754-5323.
North County entrepreneur Art Barter has a unique approach to his business: servant leadership.
"It requires leaders to think more about others than themselves," he explains. "It turns the organizational chart upside down. I now have a whole organization I can serve. My employees don't report to me; I report to them."
Barter is owner and chairman of Datron World Communications, Inc. in Vista and CEO and president of Servant Leadership Institute (SLI) in Carlsbad. Founded in 2009, SLI is a leadership training resource center created by Barter to serve and help grow leaders determined to make a positive difference in their organization and community. SLI helps self-centered leaders become more selfless leaders.
As a result of often being asked how to implement servant leadership, Barter and a small group of experienced leaders developed and wrote the “Boots on the Ground” implementation guidebooks to provide proven and practical methods for servant leadership development. For the past 10 years, these servant leaders have been involved in the transformation of Datron from a traditional power model to a servant-led model. They have lived the experience firsthand, beginning with Datron's inception of servant leadership in 2004, progressing through years of implementation, and continuing the ongoing work of transformation today.
The just-released "Boots on the Ground" guidebooks are designed to educate and equip individuals and organizations for their servant leadership journey. Each booklet draws on real-life examples from Datron's servant leadership transformation. Practical examples and insights on how servant leaders handle day-to-day common challenges and obstacles are highlighted as experts reveal what it takes to change a culture.
Working together with Datron managers, members of SLI's writing and development team helped nurture Datron's transformation through small group meetings, behavioral standards, 360-degree peer assessments, succession planning and training with renowned leadership experts such as John Maxwell, Ken Blanchard, John Izzo and Stephen M.R. Covey.
Focus on Servant Leadership
AT&T executive Robert Greenleaf launched the modern servant leadership movement in corporate America in 1968, noting that servant leadership begins with "the natural feeling that one wants to serve." Since then, this method of combined leadership and stewardship that maximizes profits, people, and the planet has transformed corporate cultures around the world. In addition to Datron, well-known organizations that have successfully implemented servant leadership include Southwest Airlines, TD Industries, WD-40, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Nordstrom, Toro Company, Zappos and Starbucks.
Servant leadership is a smart leadership approach with a moral imperative to lead for the sake of others. Great leaders model behaviors that equip and inspire others toward individual and community greatness. They do not see their employees as tools, but as humans with dignity who they can empower to make a difference.
"Servant leadership has been called the most successful leadership strategy in overcoming lackluster employee performances, poor financial results, and executive self-interests," Barter says. "Our goal is to challenge traditional perceptions of leadership and teach a smarter way to lead that truly makes a difference in our world."
SLI resources include many field-tested publications, formal training programs, coaching, keynote speakers, and conferences and workshops featuring well-known leadership experts.
SLI's 2014 Winter Conference will take place at the Omni Hotel in downtown San Diego from February 3-5. The annual conference, Changing the Game, will include leadership experts and bestselling authors Covey and Olivia McIvor; leaders (game changers) from Kindred Hospitals and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen; and other special guests to be announced. The conference will also feature a special team-building event at PETCO Park.
Visit www.servantleadershipinstitute.com, to order the guidebooks and get general information about servant leadership or call 855-754-5323.