Servant Leadership?

I was reading the September issue of the Harvard Business, on the EL, when the term Servant Leadership was used in reference this 2015 HBR…

Servant Leadership?

I was reading the September issue of the Harvard Business, on the EL, when the term Servant Leadership was used in reference this 2015 HBR article. My head snapped up and I made a quick note. It sounded eerily familiar. Upon looking up the old article, I realized why: it’s the leadership style I’ve strived for most of my career. It’s what we have been doing at Eight Bit Studios.

The basic idea is this:

When you have a servant mentality, it’s not about you. Removing self-interest and personal glory from your motivation on the job is the single most important thing you can do to inspire trust. When you focus first on the success of your organization and your team, it comes through clearly. You ask more questions, listen more carefully, and actively value others’ needs and contributions. The result is more thoughtful, balanced decisions.

I had no idea this was a form of leadership, I just thought I lacked the traditional whip-cracking skills necessary to force a team to CLIMB THAT WALL! I have never been comfortable with that mentality and, indeed, I still bristle when someone calls me “boss.” For years I have maintained that I work for my team as much as the team works for me. It’s a personal philosophy I have fostered since we hired our first employee at Eight Bit.

Servant leadership dates back the Tao Te Ching, an ancient philosophical and religious text. At Eight Bit Studios, we strive to put decision making power in the hands of the people doing the heavy lifting. At the end of the day, my partners and I view our roll as making sure the company runs, people get paid, vacations get taken, fun is had, and people have the tools and environment to do their jobs and bring their best.

When I meet with leaders of other companies and hear the ego-driven language of authority, I am heartened that Steve, John, and I have chosen another path. Our path is one of shared responsibility and team-driven glory; of company success and a people first mentality. And, apparently our path has ancient roots dating back to the 4th century BC China.