Let’s set the stage for you. On the second Wednesday of every month, Abydian employees gather in our Tank with breakfast (usually catered Chick-fil-a – because that’s our favorite) at 7:45 am to participate in our Leadership Council. One of the biggest takeaways to date is the concept of servant leadership. Before we go in-depth about what that means to us, think about what leadership as a whole means to you! 

Servant leadership by definition can vary from one organization to the next and even person to person. At Abyde, everyone has the opportunity to lead in some capacity whether they are managing people and projects or not. We encourage the mentality of leading up rather than a top-down approach. So how can you recognize servant leadership? When the everyday, routine things bring you and those around you success and joy, you are on the right track. It’s about the ability to recognize your actions’ power and impact on the rest of your organization. “We are a team and if someone needs help, I’m always willing to be a helpful hand. This might mean learning something new and growing not only professionally and personally,” said Customer Success Specialist, Sean Harris.

Alright stop, collaborate and listen – while Vanilla Ice may be more of a 90s wonder, his words couldn’t sing more true for modern-day servant leaders. If you want to start implementing this in your practice, here are a few things to consider:

• Collaboration: As a servant leader, your first priority should always be your team – encourage them to work together rather than as individuals. A small change we made was simply flip the org chart upside down to visually represent our priority amongst our employees.
• Listen: Like grandma says, listen with your ears and not with your mouth. Be the last to contribute your thoughts and make sure that not only are you listening to your team but that they feel heard.
• Measuring success: Flip the script from always focusing on the output and take a look at growth. Did an employee take on a new challenge or learn a new skill? This could be more impactful in the long run than breaking a record for the quarter.

As cliche as it may be, there is no ‘i’ in team. We believe that we are better together – our ideas, culture, and achievements are best shared as one cohesive unit. One of our teammates, Matt Leatherman said it best, “thinking of others in a team atmosphere is huge. Even if I have hit quota, I like to pass my stronger leads to others to help propel them forward. Understanding we succeed as a team, not individuals, is so important.” The power of one’s success is significant, but the achievements of a team far surpass the benefits of a solo contributor. 

Servant leadership can be exercised throughout your entire day, not just in your professional life. Be the person you would look up to. Show others empathy, celebrate the small wins, and be your team’s biggest advocate.

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” Winston Churchill