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Servant Leadership

5 minutes 5 Questions

Servant Leadership is a leadership philosophy integral to Agile and Lean teams, centered around the idea that the primary role of a leader is to serve the team. Coined by Robert K. Greenleaf in 1970, the concept emphasizes that leaders should prioritize the needs of their team members, fostering an environment where everyone can perform to the best of their abilities. In Agile frameworks, such as Scrum, the Scrum Master embodies the role of a Servant Leader. Rather than directing the team through authoritative commands, the Servant Leader facilitates collaboration, removes impediments, and ensures that the team has the necessary resources to succeed. They act as a coach and mentor, guiding the team towards self-organization and continuous improvement. This leadership style contrasts with traditional top-down management approaches, where power and decision-making are centralized. In Servant Leadership, power is shared, and the leader seeks to empower others, promoting a sense of ownership and accountability within the team. This empowerment leads to higher engagement, motivation, and job satisfaction among team members. Servant Leaders also cultivate a culture of trust and open communication. They actively listen to team members' ideas and concerns, encourage diverse perspectives, and facilitate constructive feedback. By building strong relationships and understanding individual strengths and weaknesses, they help team members grow professionally and personally. In the context of Lean practices, Servant Leadership supports the elimination of waste by fostering a team that is focused, aligned, and adaptable. Leaders help identify areas where processes can be streamlined, and promote practices that enhance efficiency and value delivery. In essence, Servant Leadership is about leading by example, placing the needs of others first, and nurturing an environment where teams can thrive. It aligns closely with Agile and Lean principles, emphasizing collaboration, respect for people, and a commitment to excellence.

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Question 1

A team member suggests an unconventional approach to a complex problem. As a servant leader, how should you react?

Correct Answer: Encourage the team member and discuss the approach with the entire team.

The main principle of a servant leader is to serve, that is, to put the needs of team members first and to encourage their personal growth and performance. Encouraging a team member who comes up with an unconventional approach aligns with this principle, as it recognizes their contribution and prompts a discussion with the team to test its feasibility. This way, the team is involved in decision making and the suggested approach is vetted collectively. The answer 'Discourage any unconventional ideas due to the risk involved' is wrong because a servant leader does not discourage ideas but instead encourages creativity and assesses potential risks collectively as a team. The answer 'Immediately reject the idea because it deviates from traditional methods' is incorrect because it directly opposes the principle of encouraging team member, which is a core of servant leadership. Finally, the answer 'Accept the idea without consulting the rest of the team' is incorrect because servant leadership stresses the importance of team discussions and collective decision making.

Question 2

In the context of Agile Project Management, the term ___________ describes a leadership approach that emphasizes the leader's role as a caretaker and facilitator rather than a traditional authoritative figure, putting the needs of the team first to empower and uplift them.

Correct Answer: Servant Leadership

The term 'Servant Leadership' best describes the leadership approach in Agile Project Management where the leader acts as a caretaker and facilitator, prioritizes the needs of the team, and seeks to empower and uplift them. This philosophy is core to Agile methodologies where teams are self-organizing and the leader’s role is to support and enable the team to be successful without exerting traditional authoritative power. The other terms refer to different leadership styles: 'Transactional Leadership' is based on a system of reward and punishment and is not primarily focused on serving the team. 'Transformational Leadership' involves inspiring and motivating team members to exceed expected performance through the leader's vision, but it does not necessarily focus on a service mindset towards team members. 'Charismatic Leadership' relies on the charm and persuasiveness of the leader, which is not specifically aligned with the facilitator and caretaker role of a leader in Agile Project Management. Therefore, these other terms do not accurately describe the leadership approach of putting the team's needs first as 'Servant Leadership' does.

Question 3

During a sprint review, the project is not progressing as expected. As a servant leader, how do you address this?

Correct Answer: Facilitate an open and transparent discussion among team members to identify the root cause of the problem and collaboratively find solutions.

A servant leader encourages open communication and collaboration when addressing problems. By allowing the team to identify the root cause and solve the issue collectively, they foster an environment of trust, continuous improvement, and shared ownership.

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