Last week, I made the comment in my blog post that, “Many people go through life in ‘victim mode.’ They don’t do it intentionally, but they let things happen to them, and feel like a victim as a result of problems large and small. You’re not a victim. You’re a leader.”

Today, I want to dive deeper into that concept and challenge you to change the way you think about leadership.

You see, as we start our careers, many of us start out on the hero’s journey. We measure ourselves – and the world measures us – by our accomplishments. We believe we alone can change the world. It’s an admirable notion, because it implies that we are not victims but our own story’s heroes. But it’s “me” thinking.

As we progress through our career, gaining responsibilities and leadership, that mindset must shift from your own accomplishments to the accomplishments of those you serve.

We need to shift from “me” thinking to “we” thinking.

This is one aspect of servant leadership. As a leader, you put the needs of others before your own, helping to develop the community and the people who have contributed to your success.

“If you want to be a leader, you’ve got to flip the switch and understand it’s about serving the folks on your team. This is a very simple concept, but one many people overlook. The sooner people realize it, the faster they become leaders.” – Jamie Irick

Here’s why shifting from “me” to “we” is so important…

If you lead with the mindset that your staff is there to support you – or “me” thinking – you’ll never get true buy-in from your team. Organizations where everyone other than the person at the top is a helper don’t get very far. No one develops responsibility or ownership.

On the other hand, if you lead with the mindset that you are there to support your staff  – “we” thinking – you bring out the best in others, give them a sense of ownership, and grow their self-discipline.

You might worry that your team won’t achieve your goals if you empower them with a sense of ownership. But in fact, it’s just the opposite – the only way they will achieve your goals is if they view themselves as owners of their responsibilities and view you as a servant leader.

It’s often said that the only path to true happiness is to direct your focus outwardly. The same is true for success. The more you shift your focus to those you serve through leadership, the more successful they will be.

This is easier said than done. It requires letting go of micromanaging. It requires trusting in the expertise and commitment of your team members. It requires admitting to yourself that you don’t have all the answers. (Watch for a blog post from me soon about my experience being micromanaged as a volunteer.)

Here are a few simple changes you can make this year to shift your focus to serving your team:

Make sure everyone knows what they’re responsible for.

If you want team members to have buy-in and feel a sense of ownership, everyone on the team, even the intern, should have goals that are SMART: specific, measurable, accountable, realistic, and time-driven. A servant leader serves the team in meeting their goals.

Hold them accountable.

It doesn’t serve anyone to tiptoe around constructive feedback about job performance. Because their goals are measurable, if they aren’t meeting them, it’s your job as a servant leader to talk to them and find out why. Get their feedback and give them yours. A servant leader is both constructive and kind.

Listen.

In order to serve, you have to understand. And in order to understand, you have to listen with empathy. That’s how you’ll build a solid relationship on which to lead. When you truly listen, you’ll learn from your team, your clients, your customers, and your followers, and you’ll know what they need from you. A servant leader earns the support of their team, rather than demand it.

Show what it means to serve.

As a servant leader, you not only want to be a servant yourself, but establish a culture of service. Encourage people on your team to join you in service to your community. A servant leader walks the walk.

Do you struggle with leadership? For many business owners who started out on their own, going from “me” to “we” is a challenging reality of a growing business.

At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I teach my clients the strategies that will make business ownership more successful and more fulfilling. If you’d like to double your revenue this year while creating a lifestyle that allows you to spend time doing the things you love with the people you love most, contact me today.

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Celeste Giordano’s mission is to help business owners develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to “DoublePlus^TM” their income and become effective and inspirational leaders in their fields. Whether it’s taking your successful business to the next level or starting a new venture, she will teach you the exact skills and strategies you need to enroll more quality prospects, build a rock-solid team, and break through obstacles to achieve real profit and lasting success. Celeste is a professional business growth specialist, a master sales strategist, and dynamic speaker with 40 years experience in direct sales and managing high-performing teams.

To learn more about Celeste, click here.

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At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I work with each client to implement the strategies they’ve been missing that will enable them to break through barriers preventing them from the success they know they are capable of. Contact me today to find your future clients who just don’t know what they’re missing.