The new style of leadership in the modern world is servant leadership. Recently, this phrase has gained popularity. However, many people are unclear about its true definition. When you see someone exercising servant leadership, you are witnessing someone who personifies the adage that deeds speak louder than words. Serving others and setting an exemplary example is central to servant leadership. Employees will gain more self-assurance, authority, and a sphere of influence by implementing a servant leadership style within an organization. You will notice transformational leadership in the company’s words and “about us” section and in people’s behavior at every level of the organization when entire firms accept and use the Servant Leadership idea.
The Development of His Approach to Servant Leadership Mentorship
Kurt Uhlir created this method for raising high-achieving servant leaders, combining positive reinforcement with moral growth. The Georgia based servant leadership expert Kurt Uhlir coined an approach that focused on the value of close bond development among the pupils, instructors, and parents, which instills in the youngster a sense of accountability and respect. Also, Kurt Uhir’s approach inspires kids to take on civic responsibilities and develop a sense of service and justice. Kids can grow into self-assured people who can use their skills for both their own and society’s benefit by adopting this strategy.
What He Teaches as an International Servant Leadership Expertise
Characterization
Character development is one of the essential aspects of Kurt Uhlir’s approach to raising high-achieving servant leaders. Uhlir believes that people should have the opportunity to learn right from wrong, become aware of their responsibilities, and progress into responsible adults. He places great importance on virtues like service-mindedness, altruism, respect for others, and integrity. Uhlir suggests fostering inquiry and exploration through books or field trips, establishing standards for conduct like etiquette and politeness in interactions with peers, adults, and organizations, providing positive role models for children to imitate, leading by example through routine and positive interactions, and holding young people responsible for these virtues as a way to teach children these qualities.
Self-Reliance
Children are encouraged to take the initiative, be independent, and pursue their interests through Uhlir’s teaching methodology. Giving students the abilities and resources they need to succeed, in his opinion, will inevitably motivate them to strive for their goals. In the classroom, it’s crucial to emphasize servant leadership and followership. If teachers encourage students to assume leadership roles, more of them will realize their potential and flourish. Children must be given the guidance, tools, and motivation they need to realize their full potential from parents and teachers. While collaboration and teamwork are essential, Uhlir argues that youngsters need to take ownership of their education to achieve.
Good Change
Successful servant leaders know that involving the community is the first step in making positive changes. They use their skills to advance social justice and their local communities and aid those in need. To do this successfully, they must select how to engage with their communities, for example, by volunteering at local NGOs or participating in community events. By doing this, they can build relationships and expand their networks while drastically enhancing people’s lives. To escape the limitations of conventional leadership, high-achieving servant leaders push themselves over the boundaries set by others and adopt radical ideas that challenge preconceived notions.
Development of Skills
Kurt Uhlir highlights the significance of skill development in producing high-achieving servant leaders. He thinks these young people need to constantly improve their teamwork, interpersonal communication, and problem-solving skills. To achieve this, he promotes teaching students how to learn, explore, and comprehend complex issues using conventional and cutting-edge techniques. Skills development can involve participating in group activities with peers, having regular talks with mentors, taking appropriate online courses, or attending seminars on the subject. Uhlir makes sure that these young leaders are prepared to manage a variety of issues throughout life as well as oversee enterprises and organizations in the future by concentrating on improving their skill set.
Mentorship
The method used by Kurt Uhlir to develop accomplished servant leaders emphasizes the value of mentoring. Young individuals need mentors to improve their skills, knowledge, and abilities. They offer direction, motivation, and counsel that can assist a young person in realizing their full potential. Children can learn from their mistakes if mentors share their experiences with them so that they can avoid making the same ones in the future. Anyone wanting to advance personally or professionally can benefit significantly from having a mentor. It gives them access to help counsel, a viewpoint on life that can be difficult to find elsewhere, and a secure environment where they can express themselves without worrying about being judged.
Learning and Development
Servant leaders know that continuing education and personal development are crucial to living a fulfilling life. They urge their adherents to keep growing intellectually, socially, and spiritually. The servant leader supports people in discovering and pursuing their passions and objectives by providing mentorship opportunities. The intention is to create a setting where everyone may advance personally and professionally. As a result, servant leaders foster a culture of lifelong learning that emphasizes constant self- and organizational improvement. The difference between a servant and traditional leaders is their dedication to learning and development. This type of leadership enables firms to develop and change to keep up with the world’s constant change.
Kurt Uhir teaches the characteristics a leader Must Possess
Sustainability is Essential.
Raising high-achieving servant leaders needs ongoing focus, dedication, and effort. If parents want their kids to prosper in the long run, they must create an atmosphere that upholds these values. This requires having frequent dialogues about the value of leadership and service and encouraging youth to participate in activities that advance these values. It also means giving their child the resources and encouragement they need to grow at home and in the neighborhood.
Reflection
After each event, it’s critical to create a space for reflection to extend learning. Students who reflect on what they have learned and how they can apply it to their life can think more deeply about what they have studied. Students can reflect on their experiences and learn how their behavior affects the world around them through reflective exercises like writing, art, or creative expression. Additionally, students are inspired to investigate their ideas further and better understand themselves and others. Although it is a crucial component of all learning activities, reflection is especially crucial when developing servant leaders committed to changing the world over the long term.
Sacrifice
High-achieving servant leaders understand that it is frequently essential to sacrifice themselves and their interests to advance their team’s success. They are prepared to go above and beyond to ensure the job is completed quickly and effectively. Sacrifice doesn’t need to be materialistic; it can take time or effort. High-achieving servant leaders will forge close bonds with their team members and acquire their respect by performing selfless acts of service. This can take the shape of coming in early to help with a problem or forgoing a break to concentrate on a project. Such sacrifices, if done right, can lead to improved teamwork and more extraordinary achievement.
Gratitude
A key component of being a servant leader is gratitude. Gratitude encourages those who exhibit this leadership style to be humble, respectful, and compassionate. Recognizing other people’s contributions and showing genuine gratitude for their efforts are crucial for cultivating thankfulness. Also, you should express gratitude for the opportunity you have been provided and spare some time to acknowledge the contributions of your team members.
Empathy
Understanding and being able to share another person’s feelings is called empathy. Because it enables leaders to understand their followers better and how to serve them best, empathy is crucial to servant leadership. Uhlir underlines that developing empathy does not need giving up one’s values; instead, it requires comprehending those of others. To be more understanding of those who may have different beliefs or experiences from them, he counsels his students to study the culture and traditions of other people. Empathy can help leaders build stronger bonds with their followers, resulting in more successful leadership.
Dedicated Service
Success for the greater good is what selfless service is all about. It’s a way of thinking that entails giving your all for something bigger than yourself and putting others’ needs ahead of your own. It implies putting aside any consideration of personal gain to assist people around you, whether they are family members, friends, or strangers. By doing this, it inspires people to develop into more self-disciplined, compassionate leaders who work to serve their community in a way that is honorable and respectable. Also, it offers individuals the chance to discover how to use their abilities and talents in ways that will truly benefit society as a whole. People are more inclined to keep putting in hard work for the business when they feel respected and appreciated. Also, expressing thanks conveys that everyone is working toward the same objectives and has something unique to offer.
Humility
A high-achieving leader must have humility as one of their core values. You need to be aware of your limitations and constantly work to improve to be an effective servant leader. The humble leader is aware of their limitations and is prepared to seek clarification, listen to others, and base judgments on information rather than conceit or ego. When a leader demonstrates humility, it can strengthen bonds with team members and promote improved communication among all stakeholders participating in a project or endeavor. Furthermore, humility enables leaders to focus on their objectives and mission in the face of obstacles or criticism from others. Also, humility enables leaders to own up to errors and repair them so that the team can advance.
Integrity
Integrity Servant leaders who achieve great success uphold the strictest moral principles. They never stoop to moral compromise because they realize that telling the truth is always the best action. They have the fortitude to speak up for justice and guarantee that decisions are always made for the good of all parties involved. Such leaders make a concerted effort to follow moral ideals in all parts of their lives and to promote a society where people respect one another’s boundaries and behave decently. They never attempt to run away from mistakes they have made, instead accepting responsibility for them. All team members’ pursuit of the same goal is ensured by integrity, which fosters trust among them.
Intelligence in Emotions
Kurt Uhlir’s strategy for producing accomplished servant leaders is enhancing emotional intelligence (EI). “The ability to be aware of, control, and express one’s emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships prudently and empathetically” is the definition of emotional intelligence. Self-management is handling powerful emotions without losing control or making hasty decisions. Social awareness is comprehending how other people feel in a given scenario. Relationship management is the ability to build successful connections through honesty and empathy.
Self-Reflection
Reflecting on oneself is essential for effective servant leadership. It enables leaders to see their shortcomings and talents and how they may make the most of each to become better leaders. Self-reflection also helps leaders maintain their humility by making them more aware of their flaws and limits. Servant Leaders can develop their leadership skills by regularly engaging in conscious self-reflection to understand better their behavior, motives, values, and beliefs. Also, this knowledge fosters empathy inside a business, enabling leaders to understand the needs and sentiments of individuals around them. Servant Leaders can learn from reflection how to connect with others in a way that motivates a team to work well together.
As their personal lives are an integral part of who they are, you don’t ignore them when you lead people. If they are not treated appropriately, they will not produce effectively, harming the company’s overall performance. This pandemic has made us realize how crucial that is now more than ever. Kurt Uhir discusses the difficulties of burnout at work, the significance of self-care, and how leaders may engage their teams and assist them in their work. Kurt offers insightful commentary on the impact that faith has played in his life and why he thinks high-achieving servant leadership is the best approach.
