Leaders constantly seek effective strategies to motivate their teams, drive innovation, and achieve sustainable success. One approach that has gained significant traction is servant leadership. This philosophy and practice prioritize serving their employees, fostering their growth and development, and creating a positive and empowering work environment.
Drawing inspiration from the insights shared by Lorne Girard, a seasoned business leader with a remarkable track record of success. As discussed in a recent Accelerating Operational Performance podcast interview, Lorne Girard’s leadership approach exemplifies the profound impact of servant leadership on employee engagement, customer satisfaction, and organizational growth.
You can listen to the full episode here or watch it on YouTube here. We talk about leadership and how to apply servant leadership, examine Lorne Girard’s practical application of these principles, and discuss how organizations can adopt this approach.
Understanding Servant Leadership
What is Servant Leadership?
Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy that prioritizes serving others and promoting their well-being. It emphasizes empathy, listening, awareness, and community building. Servant leaders empower and develop their teams, creating a culture of trust and collaboration. Examples of servant leaders include historical figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa, as well as contemporary leaders like Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of PepsiCo.
The Key Principles of Servant Leadership
Characteristics of servant leadership include:
- Listening: Paying close attention to what others have to say and understanding their perspectives.
- Empathy: Putting oneself in another person’s shoes and understanding their feelings and needs.
- Awareness: Being mindful of one’s own strengths and weaknesses and the impact of one’s actions on others.
- Building Community: Fostering a sense of belonging and connection among team members.
Benefits of Servant Leadership in the Workplace
There is a positive relationship between servant leadership in the workplace, including:
- Increased employee engagement and motivation. When employees feel valued and supported, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated in their work.
- Improved collaboration and teamwork. Servant leaders create an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing ideas and working together.
- Enhanced creativity and innovation. By empowering employees and encouraging their input, servant leaders can foster a culture of creativity and innovation.
- Reduced employee turnover. Employees are more likely to stay with an organization when they feel valued and appreciated.
- Servant leaders prioritize customer needs, leading to improved customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Lorne Girard’s Journey with Servant Leadership
Early Influences and Inspiration
Lorne’s journey with servant leadership began with an innate desire to help people and a passion for continuous learning. He was an avid reader, devouring leadership literature, negotiation, and biographies of inspiring figures. This commitment to self-education shaped his leadership philosophy and instilled in him the belief that leadership is a learned skill.
Building a People-Centric Culture
Lorne prioritized building a people-centric culture within his organization.
“At the Window and Door Company, which is where I had worked with you, you would have said, ‘oh, I was here at 6:00 a.m. or 5:30 or 6:30’ and greeting people on the way in, or on the flip side, greeting people on the way out and thanking them for a good day’s work.” — Greg Schinkel
He believed that a company’s most valuable asset is its people, so he made it a point to connect with them on a personal level. He learned about their interests, goals, and even their families. This approach fostered a sense of belonging and trust among his employees.
His commitment to this type of leadership was evident in his daily actions. He would often arrive early to greet employees as they started their day and thank them for their work as they left. He was accessible and approachable, making it clear that he was not in an “ivory tower.” He even had a phone installed on the shop floor so employees could reach him directly.
Lorne’s servant leadership style was deeply rooted in respect for his employees. He valued their contributions and recognized their importance in the company’s success. This respect was reciprocated by his employees, who admired and trusted him.
Implementing Servant Leadership Principles
Leading by Example
Lorne believed in leading by example. He demonstrated this in his daily interactions with employees, customers, and suppliers. He was always willing to lend a helping hand, offer guidance, and support his team. He believed that leaders should be accessible and approachable, fostering open communication and trust.
Empowering and Developing Others
Lorne was passionate about empowering and developing his employees. He delegated tasks effectively, providing his team with the autonomy and resources they needed to succeed. He invested in training and leadership development programs to help employees enhance their skills and advance their careers. He also fostered a culture of continuous improvement, encouraging employees to identify and implement solutions to improve processes and enhance efficiency.
Building Strong Relationships
Lorne emphasized the importance of building strong relationships with employees, customers, and suppliers. He believed that these relationships were essential for creating a positive and productive work environment. He preferred face-to-face communication whenever possible, believing that it allowed for more meaningful and authentic interactions. He also made it a point to get to know his employees on a personal level, showing genuine interest in their lives and well-being.
The Impact of Servant Leadership on Business Success
Improved Employee Morale and Productivity
Servant leadership has a big impact on employee morale and productivity. When employees feel valued, supported, and empowered, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated in their work. Studies have shown a strong correlation between employee engagement and business performance. Organizations with highly engaged employees tend to have higher productivity, lower turnover rates, and increased profitability.
“The only way that you can stand before the people and communicate with them, and when we did in General Assembly, was because you talk to them all the time. And they’re going to believe what you’re talking to them about because there’s trust, there’s integrity, there’s value systems that we share.” – Lorne Girard
Enhanced Customer Loyalty and Satisfaction
Servant leadership can also lead to enhanced customer loyalty and satisfaction. By prioritizing the needs of their employees, servant leaders create a customer-centric culture where employees are more likely to go the extra mile to meet customer expectations. This focus on customer service can lead to increased customer retention and loyalty.
Sustainable Business Growth
Servant leadership can contribute to sustainable business growth by building a strong foundation for long-term success. By fostering a culture of trust, collaboration, and continuous improvement, servant leaders create an environment where employees are empowered to innovate, adapt to change, and contribute to the organization’s growth.
This approach can increase efficiency, improve quality, and enhance customer satisfaction, all of which are essential for sustainable business growth.
Overcoming Challenges in Servant Leadership
Resistance to Change
Implementing a servant leadership approach can sometimes encounter resistance from employees or other stakeholders who are accustomed to traditional leadership. To address this resistance, it is essential to communicate the benefits clearly and provide opportunities for employees to share their concerns and feedback. It is also important to involve employees in the decision-making process and empower them to take ownership of their work.
Balancing Servant Leadership with Business Objectives
Servant leadership also must strike a balance between serving others and achieving business objectives. While prioritizing the needs of employees is essential, it’s also crucial to ensure that the organization is meeting its goals and remaining competitive. Servant leaders must be able to make difficult decisions when necessary, even if those decisions may not be popular with everyone.
Developing Servant Leadership Skills
Developing leadership skills is a journey that requires commitment and a strategic approach. We believe in providing leaders with the tools and resources they need to cultivate these essential qualities.
This development process involves:
- Continuous Learning: Ongoing learning through workshops, seminars, and resources like books and articles. We offer a range of leadership programs designed to immerse leaders in the principles and practices of servant leadership.
- Self-Reflection and Awareness: A crucial aspect of becoming a servant leader is developing self-awareness. This involves understanding your strengths, weaknesses, values, and how your actions impact others. Our training programs incorporate self-assessment tools and exercises to facilitate this process.
- Practical Application: Theory is important, but practice is essential. Our programs emphasize experiential learning, providing leaders with opportunities to apply leadership principles in real-world scenarios through simulations and case studies.
- Mentorship and Coaching: Learning from experienced servant leaders can provide invaluable guidance and support.
- Community Building: Servant leadership thrives in a collaborative environment.
By focusing on these key areas, leaders are equipped with the skills and mindset necessary to become effective servant leaders and drive positive change within their organizations.
“But you have to get to their level, and the only way to do that is to integrate with them and talk to them, like not in a down way, not as the boss, find out their interests and what their visions are and what they want to accomplish in their life.” – Lorne Girard
Embrace the Power of Servant Leadership
Servant leadership is a powerful approach to transforming organizations and fostering sustainable success. By prioritizing employees’ needs, servant leaders cultivate trust, collaboration, and mutual respect, which in turn drives engagement, customer satisfaction, and stronger business performance.
Lorne Girard’s leadership journey exemplifies the transformative power of servant leadership. Embracing its principles, he built a thriving organization where employees felt valued, customers were loyal, and the business achieved remarkable growth.
In today’s rapidly changing world, transformational leadership is more critical than ever. Organizations that adopt this approach can gain a competitive edge, attract and retain top talent, and build a sustainable future.
We encourage you to embrace the servant leadership theory in your own leadership practice. By prioritizing your people, you empower them and achieve remarkable results. Let’s build a community of servant leaders committed to making a positive impact.
Embracing effective leadership enables organizations to cultivate trust, collaboration, and mutual respect, fostering increased productivity, improved morale, and stronger customer relationships. If you’d like to discuss how I can help, please reach out at uniquedevelopment.com.
Did you enjoy this blog?
Here are some related topics that you may find interesting:
Jonathan Chase: Connecting with Team Members and Driving Engagement
James Ott on Lean Leadership: Building a Culture of Continuous Improvement
Vaidesh Subramanyam: The Power of Lean Thinking for Sustainable Success
