Why the Millennial Approach SHOULD be Servant Leadership
Millennials have taken over the workplace. In 2020, the millennial generation accounted for more than half of the American working population. This is not an easy place to be. As a young individual entering the workforce, you’re trying to not only learn the ropes in your industry, you’re also figuring out who you are as an individual. Younger millennials, like me, are finding themselves in this stage of their lives. They’re branching out, finding new approaches to teamwork and leadership. For me, all signs point to servant leadership.
When I first started studying servant leadership, I found it hard to explain to my friends. It felt like common sense; but as I dug deeper, I realized that there is so much more to it than that.
Servant leadership isn’t new. The employee-based leadership approach has been around for generations, and has been making its way to mainstream society over recent years. The heart of servant leadership is in the name - servant leaders lead by serving.
The mindset of a servant leader is to assist colleagues to recognize their passions and professional abilities, while providing the necessary materials and support that will propel their success. To put it simply, how can the organization help you, the employee, succeed rather than the opposite?
This approach to leadership is perfect for the millennial generation.
As this age group becomes more involved in the workforce, they’re pushing the boundaries of leadership by building organizations with a focus on personal passion, while prioritizing a healthy work-life balance. This was especially prevalent this past year, after the uptick of work-from-home employees due to Covid-19.
Millennials value constructive criticism and collaboration within the workplace. They want leaders who will engage with them and encourage the pursuit of personal ambitions while also fulfilling the duties outlined by their organization.
Is it possible to be subservient and lead at the same time? The answer could be confusing to some. To help clarify, here are examples of characteristics commonly found in servant leaders, that perfectly represent how they correlate for the millennial workforce:
They Are Authentic Leaders
There is a transparency that is expected. In leadership, there is a demand for a consistent balance of courage, discipline and “remaining true to your own moral compass of what the right thing is.”There Are No Organizational Charts
Servant leaders, just like millennials, use mistakes and failures as a jumping off point for growth rather than an opportunity for punishment. The desire to grow and impact those they’re in contact with is much stronger than the desire for a CEO title.They Value People
Add value to the person, not their job description and put the employee above the task. There is nothing more precious than a life; not an event, a project, or even a business meeting is more important than an individual.They Emphasize Collaboration
Millennials thrive in community based cultures that build compassionate, engaging teams. Servant leaders acknowledge that every individual is important and business results should be achieved with that mindset of service.They Enhance Their People
Everyone has their own specific skills and abilities - that’s what steers individuality. Servant leaders capitalize on that by using each persons’ strengths in order to create the desired results. Develop your people, not your processes.
As I’ve come to find out, servant leadership is as deceptively simple as I originally thought - put your people first. What I’ve since learned is the rich impact a simple action can have on individuals and organizations as a whole. Servant leaders are powerful supporters, role models and avid listeners for their community.
Servant leadership is not a ‘do or die’ culture. Since technology has created a more social economy, individuals require the intellectual safety and self-sufficiency to be as creative as possible. This is especially poignant for millennials, who steer away from dictatorial leadership and desire to create on their own terms.
Millennials are in a unique position to change how they look at workplace culture.
As a generation, we must start putting the emphasis on the people, not the work. So, let’s evolve past the negative, and lift each other up as individuals, who contribute to the desired result.
OLIVIA PENCE has been a part of the Datron World Communications & Servant Leadership Institute Teams for many years, and has loved every moment of the experience. Olivia has worked closely with the Datron Charitable Fund, and believes that servant leadership can inspire the world. Olivia graduated from Cal State University, Fullerton with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Her rich background in theatre has helped her specialize in social media coordination, digital marketing development and creative content production.