Are you the dynamo in your team?

The team remains happy and healthy if the manager has adopted the three golden rules of a serving leader:

1. Have courage
2. Create safety
3. Listen

The first rule, courage, is actually the most important. What we are talking about here is not showing off or being reckless; we’re talking about humble, inner courage. It’s important to make the distinction between bravery and courage. A serving leader implements the latter.

A courageous leader puts themselves out there. If necessary, they act like a bulldozer that clears space for others. They believe in their vision and they won’t let others bring them down. They get the team on board because they inspire a great deal of motivation in the entire group. This kind of leader is believed and followed. 

A courageous leader is not a puppet or a follower. They do not work to simply make their own supervisor happy. Instead, they think about the goals of their organization and the best interests of their customers.

Of course, behind this courageous action lies a clear analysis that the goal is the right one. If the leader makes a mistake, they’re willing to admit it. After all, they are an emotionally mature adult.

Safety without indulgence

Creating safety is necessary to allow the team to focus on their core task. Psychological safety proved to be the most important success factor, for example, for Google's “perfect team”.

What does safety mean? It does not mean helicopter parenting or being a pushover; in fact, excessive softness on the part of the leader can create a feeling of insecurity. The employees may feel that the leader has lost control.

In a safe atmosphere, all team members know what they're doing and why. The leader is predictable and consistent and does not behave unpredictably.

The most important quality of a safe leader is being fair and just. Equal treatment creates well-being in the team, while the opposite behavior – unfair and unpredictable – has been shown to increase cardiac diseases and sleep disorders, among other things.

Once the team feels comfortable and able to work in peace, each member of the team will have the courage to be open and to be themselves. Everyone can trust that the members of the team support each other, and people also have the courage to talk about problems. Open sharing of information is also essential; when team members have access to all the information they need, they have the best possible prerequisites for action.

Sharing information is particularly important in difficult times. When, for example, cooperation negotiations are taking place in the organization, the atmosphere of trust is being tested. The leader must be present and available and share any information they can provide. One important task of a serving leader is to help people move forward in their lives and careers – even when the roads lead in different directions.

Listening is learning

Listening sounds like a simple task, but it is not always the case. First of all, a leader really needs to focus on listening. If you distract yourself, you don't really hear what the other person is trying to say. It is also important to show that you are listening. This basic rule of communication is not always realized in everyday work situations. Look the person in the eye, nod, ask questions. 

You don't have to be able to answer everything right away. In fact, patience is very important, because it is good for a leader to learn to control their impulsiveness. Nor should the leader dismiss any issues the employees want to talk about. Particularly in complex matters, we recommend returning to the topic after considering it thoroughly.

You must listen to everyone equally. Having cliques causes problems in any work community. Make sure that you also listen and hear those who are more unlikely to come talk to you. You might get the best ideas and the most important information from them.

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