From Intention to Action: Transforming Servant Leadership with SLII®

“Who would like to be a servant leader?”

At the start of many presentations, when I pose this question, the response is always the same: all the hands go up.

“Who has a plan for becoming one?” I follow up.

And just like that, all the hands go down.

It's a stark reminder that while many aspire to be servant leaders, intentions alone aren't enough—they need to be paired with action. This is what I’ve always loved about the SLII® leadership model. SLII® empowers leaders to take their intentions and put them into practice, with a focus on bringing out the best in others.

SLII® provides three critical skills that turn the ideal of servant leadership into practical behaviors: goal setting, diagnosis, and matching.

1. Setting Clear Goals: A Collaborative Approach

Effective performance begins with clear goals. As a leader, it’s your responsibility to ensure every team member understands what they’re working toward. Without clarity, no one will know what success looks like, and the team will never reach its potential.

In SLII®, goal setting is a collaborative process. It's not just about assigning tasks—it’s about sitting down together to review the team's goals and then defining how each individual can contribute. You might say:

“Here are the key objectives for our team. What are your thoughts on this? How can we work together to achieve them?”

By involving your team in the goal-setting process, you ensure that each individual feels a sense of ownership. This is where the servant leadership mindset comes into play—you're not just telling them what to do; you're partnering with them to set meaningful and achievable goals.

2. Diagnosing Development Levels: Understanding Needs

Once goals are clear, the next step is to diagnose where each team member stands in their development on those goals. People are at different levels of competence and commitment for each task they’re working on, and your leadership style must adjust accordingly.

In this phase, you and the team member assess their strengths and areas for growth. Together, you determine the right balance of direction and support they need to succeed.

For instance, when working toward a new goal, most people need more direction and guidance. As they gain confidence and competence, they’ll require less direction and more support. The SLII® model helps you identify these needs and adapt your approach to match each person’s stage of development for each specific goal.

Too often, leaders set goals without diagnosing development levels, offering little coaching, and only giving feedback at the end of a quarter or year. SLII® encourages continuous feedback and adjustment, ensuring that team members get the help they need when they need it most.

3. Matching Leadership Styles: Flexibility in Action

The third SLII® skill is matching. This means adapting your leadership style to the individual’s current needs rather than relying on one style for all situations.

While it might feel comfortable to use the same leadership style with everyone, that’s not always the most effective approach. Leaders must be flexible and adjust their style depending on the person's development level.

For example:

• For someone new to a task, you'll need to give clear direction and support regularly.

• For someone who’s more experienced, you can shift to a coaching role, offering support but reducing the level of direction.

• As individuals grow in competence and commitment, you can delegate more and provide guidance as needed, allowing them to take ownership.

It’s important to recognize that leadership isn’t about doing everything yourself. In fact, you can rely on the strengths of your team members. If someone excels at a specific task, encourage them to support others who may be less experienced. This collaborative dynamic fosters a culture of mutual success, where everyone contributes to the team’s overall goals.

Turning Mindset into Skill Set

By integrating goal setting, diagnosis, and matching into your leadership approach, you transform your servant leadership mindset into an actionable skill set that enables you to guide and support your team in achieving their goals.

As we move away from top-down leadership models, servant leadership becomes more relevant than ever. It’s no longer about leading to people but about leading with them. SLII® helps you become the leader who works side by side with their team, not just guiding them but empowering them to succeed.

If you’d like to dive deeper into the SLII® model and how to implement these principles, I invite you to join our free webinar:

Empower and Inspire: Using SLII® to Bring Out the Best in Others

Wednesday, 11 Dec, 2024

Join Dr. Vicki Halsey, Blanchard’s VP of Applied Learning, for a transformative session where you’ll explore:

• Understanding SLII®: Learn the foundational concepts of flexibility and adaptation in leadership.

• Diagnosing Development Levels: Discover how to accurately assess your team’s needs to provide the right level of support.

• Applying Matching Leadership Styles: Learn how to effectively apply the four leadership styles—directing, coaching, supporting, and delegating—to inspire and motivate your team.

• Enhancing Team Performance: Explore strategies to boost team performance and morale by adopting the right leadership style for each situation.