Learn how to develop the decision-making skills to match your servant leadership style. Find out how to assess, seek, evaluate, communicate, and learn from your choices.

As a leader it is very important to get opinions of others but it is also important that you make the final decision and be accountable for the outcome of that decision. When you make a decision you don't believe in just because someone recommended it and it goes south, you can't go back to the person who advised you to tak responsibility. You are the leader and you must own up. Remember, the story of Adam and Eve. It was Eve who advised Adam to eat the fruit but when it was all over; God came to Adam with a question, 'What are you done, Adam?" So, be open minded to listen from people but never forget that you will be accountable for your decisions.

Everything falls and rises on communication. You can plan and do research but if you fail to communicate your vision to the team, then you have failed as a leader.

You want to lead with a servant’s heart. How can you develop the decision-making skills to match?

Servant leadership is a philosophy and practice that puts the needs, interests, and goals of others before your own. It is a way of leading with a servant's heart, which means being humble, empathetic, compassionate, and service-oriented. But how can you develop the decision-making skills to match your servant leadership style? Here are some tips to help you make wise and ethical choices that benefit your team, your organization, and your community.

1 Assess the situation

Before you make any decision, you need to gather relevant information and understand the context, the stakeholders, the risks, and the opportunities. Ask yourself: What is the problem or goal? Who is affected by it? What are their needs and expectations? What are the possible solutions and outcomes? How urgent and important is the decision? How aligned is it with your vision and values? By assessing the situation, you can clarify the purpose and scope of your decision and avoid jumping to conclusions or making assumptions.

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Ntladi Mthimunye (PGDip)

Senior Specialist Case Manager | Member of NextGen Exco
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Decision making is all about gathering facts and asking probing questions which would lead to more of a correct decision and not desired decision. Correct decision is a decision whereby it can deliver negative or positive results

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Rodrick M. Mutale
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It is important to get all the facts as much as you can. But as a leader, you must also understand that not in all situations you will have the facts and information in your decision-making. Therefore, you must be ready to follow your gut.

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2 Seek feedback and input

As a servant leader, you value the opinions and perspectives of others, especially those who are directly involved or impacted by your decision. You seek feedback and input from your team, your peers, your mentors, and your customers. You listen actively and respectfully, and you acknowledge and appreciate their contributions. You also seek diverse and constructive views that challenge your own assumptions and biases. By seeking feedback and input, you can leverage the collective wisdom and experience of your network and foster trust and collaboration.

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Rodrick M. Mutale
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As a leader it is very important to get opinions of others but it is also important that you make the final decision and be accountable for the outcome of that decision. When you make a decision you don't believe in just because someone recommended it and it goes south, you can't go back to the person who advised you to tak responsibility. You are the leader and you must own up. Remember, the story of Adam and Eve. It was Eve who advised Adam to eat the fruit but when it was all over; God came to Adam with a question, 'What are you done, Adam?" So, be open minded to listen from people but never forget that you will be accountable for your decisions.

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3 Evaluate the alternatives

Once you have gathered enough information and feedback, you need to evaluate the alternatives and weigh the pros and cons of each option. You can use various tools and techniques to help you analyze and compare the alternatives, such as SWOT analysis, decision matrix, cost-benefit analysis, or scenario planning. You also need to consider the ethical implications of your decision and how it aligns with your values and principles. By evaluating the alternatives, you can identify the best solution that meets your criteria and objectives.

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Rodrick M. Mutale
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Leadership is about exploring options so that you can choose the best option. A leader who has a narrow focus on one thing ends up missing out on the best opportunities.

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4 Communicate the decision

After you have made your decision, you need to communicate it clearly and effectively to all the relevant parties. You need to explain the rationale, the benefits, and the expected outcomes of your decision. You also need to address any concerns or objections that may arise and provide support and guidance to those who are affected by your decision. You also need to solicit feedback and monitor the implementation and impact of your decision. By communicating the decision, you can ensure transparency, accountability, and buy-in from your stakeholders.

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Rodrick M. Mutale
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Everything falls and rises on communication. You can plan and do research but if you fail to communicate your vision to the team, then you have failed as a leader.

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5 Learn from the outcomes

Finally, you need to learn from the outcomes of your decision and reflect on what went well and what can be improved. You need to celebrate the successes and acknowledge the challenges. You also need to solicit feedback and evaluate the results and feedback of your decision. You also need to identify the lessons learned and the best practices that can help you improve your decision-making skills in the future. By learning from the outcomes, you can foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Saurabh Chhabra

Agility Enabler
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In Summary 1.) Be empathetic and give earful to the team members and stakeholders. 2.) Practice patience and inquisitiveness by standard probing ways as 5 Why's and others to understand the problem and probable solutions. 3) Ask for suggestions and go with most probable solutions, which would help you succeed or fail faster. 4.) Celebrate failures and success both equally. 5.) Be fearless to Failures and new ways of working.

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Mulenga Musonda
(edited)
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Leading with a servant's heart involves being empathetic, having some level of humility and a commitment to serving others. This is paramount.. I think the best skills to develop would be being an active listener and communicator coupled with empathy, conflict resolution, delegation, time management ofcourse and fostering a supportive team environment.

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You want to lead with a servant’s heart. How can you develop the decision-making skills to match?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Assess the situation

2 Seek feedback and input

3 Evaluate the alternatives

4 Communicate the decision

5 Learn from the outcomes

6 Here’s what else to consider

Servant Leadership

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You want to lead with a servant’s heart. How can you develop the decision-making skills to match?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Assess the situation

2 Seek feedback and input

3 Evaluate the alternatives

4 Communicate the decision

5 Learn from the outcomes

6 Here’s what else to consider

Servant Leadership

Rate this article

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