I have met leaders in organizations around the world who act as if leadership is all about them. They want everybody to recognize that they are in charge.

People who think that way certainly aren’t servant leaders. They are self-serving leaders who miss out on the reality that their people are capable of much more than they are given credit for. As a result, the best people exit the organization as soon as possible and search for a company where leaders see their people as partners rather than subordinates (subordinary people).

Servant leaders, on the other hand, realize leadership is about working alongside their people, sharing information, and keeping lines of communication open. When that happens, people get to know each other’s strengths and build on them to help the team perform at the highest level. They prove that 1+1 is greater than 2.

MAKING COMMON SENSE COMMON PRACTICE

If you want to create a high performing team, you need to do the following:

• Face the fact that your people already understand that you don’t know everything.

• Ask for help from your team members when you are making decisions or trying to find solutions to problems.

• Let them know everyone’s contribution is needed and appreciated.

When you model this side-by-side leadership philosophy, your team will be ready and willing to get on board.