17: Put your Team First

Almost everything you do as a manager can be influenced or framed by the mindset of serving your team: in the level of autonomy you provide, in how you invest in people’s growth, and in the culture of respect and gratitude that you build, and beyond. With the servant leadership approach, your job as a manager changes from that of conductor to that of coach and cheerleader. When you can make a few small adjustments in how you act towards and with your team, your people will have the space and confidence to do their best work.   Get the free mini-guide to help you put your team first.   Join the Modern Manager community to get the full guide to servant leadership and many more resources to support your learning journey.   Subscribe to my newsletter to get episodes, articles and mini-guides delivered to your inbox.   Read the article based on this episode: Servant Leadership: Leading from Behind   Key Takeaways: Servant leadership means putting your team first in order to unleash the potential of your people. Try adapting your approach to what works best with each of your team members.  Prioritize the person and their ability over your own convenience. Coach them rather than 'doing it for them.' If you work in a large organization, the bureaucracy can be suffocating. You must clear the path, keep things moving up above, and prevent unnecessary stressors for your team. Trust your team. Accept that sometimes this means they will fail. Speak last in meetings. Make space for other people to share first so you don't shut down the conversation before it begins. Be willing to be wrong. Apologize when you make a mistake and admit when you don't know something.   Get it touch! Email me at [email protected]