Servant Leadership Institute Winter Conference Focuses on Changing the Game
Even if you are unfamiliar with servant leadership and know nothing about its methodology, it's quite likely you have benefited from it. Many well-known organizations have successfully implemented servant leadership, including Southwest Airlines, Nordstrom, Zappos and Starbucks. What do they all have in common? Their employees are empowered to make a difference because management is focused on leading for the sake of others. One of the most simplistic ways to think about it is service before self.
Servant leadership is not a new concept; in 1968, AT&T executive Robert Greenleaf launched the modern movement in corporate America. It has taken some time to be embraced by organizations with leadership teams that have been trained to lead with power and intimidation, but over the last couple years, we've seen a shift: instead of being asked to explain what servant leadership is, we're more often queried about how it can be implemented.
Focus on Culture Change
Servant leadership is a set of principles and practices designed to enhance the lives of individuals, organizations and communities whereby we create a better world by helping one another. The leader is there to serve those who follow. This is a paradigm shift from what many of us have experienced in our lives. Becoming a servant leader is a process and everyone grows as a servant leader at their own pace. Like many leadership approaches, servant leadership takes time to learn and implement in an organization.
Servant Leadership Institute (SLI), now located in Carlsbad, has helped leaders understand the value of servant leadership and implement it into their organizations since 2009. SLI is in the process of building out a new training center at our facility that will allow us to offer more programs and workshops for businesses of all sizes.
"Traditional leadership models simply aren't working," said Art Barter, founder and CEO of SLI and owner and chairman of Datron World Communications, Inc., which he transformed into a thriving servant-led organization. "Self-centered leadership doesn't lead to sustainable success, and as people come to realize that, they're looking for a different way to lead."
Maximizing Potential
Those who have been schooled in wielding power to get employees to perform, which is pretty much everyone, often are initially reticent to relinquish their control and fearful of being seen as "soft." What they ultimately come to realize, if they truly embrace servant leadership, is that this style of leadership is going to pay much greater dividends than power-driven models?and it doesn't do away with oversight, but approaches it in a more caring manner. Treating an employee as asset versus a tool is not "soft"; it actually calls upon a stronger character as a leader.
Think about those companies mentioned at the beginning of the article. All are known for having exceptional customer service, and that's no coincidence. When employees feel valued, a key servant leadership tenet, they are going to work harder and be more loyal. We've seen it time and time again; companies that successfully implement servant leadership maximize profits, people, and the planet.
"Servant leadership is a smart leadership approach with a moral imperative to lead for the sake of others," Barter said. "When leaders treat their colleagues as they wish to be treated and teams become laser-focused on their customers, the results are really astonishing."
Changing the Game
SLI's 4th annual Winter Conference, which will take place at the Omni Resort Hotel in downtown San Diego on Feb. 4 and 5, will bring together people from across the country who are interested in thinking differently about leadership. The previous three conferences have sold out, and that is expected to happen in 2014 as well. The conference kicks off with a welcome reception at the Omni on the evening of Feb. 3.
The stellar lineup of speakers includes Barter; Stephen M.R. Covey, author of The Speed of Trust; Ken Blanchard, best-selling author and leadership expert; Cheryl Bachelder, CEO of Popeyes; Michael Tatelbame, Senior Director, HR of Kindred Healthcare; Olivia McIvor, Senior Partner of Organizational Culture Group; and two Senior Servant Leadership Trainers from SLI, Jeanne McGuire and Rodney Jackson. They will be presenting innovative information over three innings:
• First inning: Connect
Be a Game Changer.
• Second Inning: Trust
Change the Game of Trust.
• Third Inning: Act
Keeping Score/How to Achieve Results.
Through interactive workshops, attendees will learn new behaviors and get the chance to practice them. A special highlight of the two-day event will be a Geoteaming activity for a local charity at Petco Park hosted by award-winning sportscaster Dick Enberg.
More information about SLI and the conference, including sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities, is available at http://servantleadershipinstitute.com. You'll also find a link there to register and take advantage of the early bird rate, which runs through Jan. 1.
The Business Spotlight is a paid advertorial feature. To get your business in the spotlight, contact Julie Miramontes at [email protected].
Even if you are unfamiliar with servant leadership and know nothing about its methodology, it's quite likely you have benefited from it. Many well-known organizations have successfully implemented servant leadership, including Southwest Airlines, Nordstrom, Zappos and Starbucks. What do they all have in common? Their employees are empowered to make a difference because management is focused on leading for the sake of others. One of the most simplistic ways to think about it is service before self.
Servant leadership is not a new concept; in 1968, AT&T executive Robert Greenleaf launched the modern movement in corporate America. It has taken some time to be embraced by organizations with leadership teams that have been trained to lead with power and intimidation, but over the last couple years, we've seen a shift: instead of being asked to explain what servant leadership is, we're more often queried about how it can be implemented.
Focus on Culture Change
Servant leadership is a set of principles and practices designed to enhance the lives of individuals, organizations and communities whereby we create a better world by helping one another. The leader is there to serve those who follow. This is a paradigm shift from what many of us have experienced in our lives. Becoming a servant leader is a process and everyone grows as a servant leader at their own pace. Like many leadership approaches, servant leadership takes time to learn and implement in an organization.
Servant Leadership Institute (SLI), now located in Carlsbad, has helped leaders understand the value of servant leadership and implement it into their organizations since 2009. SLI is in the process of building out a new training center at our facility that will allow us to offer more programs and workshops for businesses of all sizes.
"Traditional leadership models simply aren't working," said Art Barter, founder and CEO of SLI and owner and chairman of Datron World Communications, Inc., which he transformed into a thriving servant-led organization. "Self-centered leadership doesn't lead to sustainable success, and as people come to realize that, they're looking for a different way to lead."
Maximizing Potential
Those who have been schooled in wielding power to get employees to perform, which is pretty much everyone, often are initially reticent to relinquish their control and fearful of being seen as "soft." What they ultimately come to realize, if they truly embrace servant leadership, is that this style of leadership is going to pay much greater dividends than power-driven models?and it doesn't do away with oversight, but approaches it in a more caring manner. Treating an employee as asset versus a tool is not "soft"; it actually calls upon a stronger character as a leader.
Think about those companies mentioned at the beginning of the article. All are known for having exceptional customer service, and that's no coincidence. When employees feel valued, a key servant leadership tenet, they are going to work harder and be more loyal. We've seen it time and time again; companies that successfully implement servant leadership maximize profits, people, and the planet.
"Servant leadership is a smart leadership approach with a moral imperative to lead for the sake of others," Barter said. "When leaders treat their colleagues as they wish to be treated and teams become laser-focused on their customers, the results are really astonishing."
Changing the Game
SLI's 4th annual Winter Conference, which will take place at the Omni Resort Hotel in downtown San Diego on Feb. 4 and 5, will bring together people from across the country who are interested in thinking differently about leadership. The previous three conferences have sold out, and that is expected to happen in 2014 as well. The conference kicks off with a welcome reception at the Omni on the evening of Feb. 3.
The stellar lineup of speakers includes Barter; Stephen M.R. Covey, author of The Speed of Trust; Ken Blanchard, best-selling author and leadership expert; Cheryl Bachelder, CEO of Popeyes; Michael Tatelbame, Senior Director, HR of Kindred Healthcare; Olivia McIvor, Senior Partner of Organizational Culture Group; and two Senior Servant Leadership Trainers from SLI, Jeanne McGuire and Rodney Jackson. They will be presenting innovative information over three innings:
• First inning: Connect
Be a Game Changer.
• Second Inning: Trust
Change the Game of Trust.
• Third Inning: Act
Keeping Score/How to Achieve Results.
Through interactive workshops, attendees will learn new behaviors and get the chance to practice them. A special highlight of the two-day event will be a Geoteaming activity for a local charity at Petco Park hosted by award-winning sportscaster Dick Enberg.
More information about SLI and the conference, including sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities, is available at http://servantleadershipinstitute.com. You'll also find a link there to register and take advantage of the early bird rate, which runs through Jan. 1.
The Business Spotlight is a paid advertorial feature. To get your business in the spotlight, contact Julie Miramontes at [email protected].