As the former cultural architect of Datron World Communications, Inc., Art Barter turned a $10 million dollar company in 2004 into a $200 million revenue company by 2010. The success was born out of Art’s desire to transform a traditional system of leadership into a servant-led organization.
As an active speaker, Art tells Datron’s riveting story from severe adversity to miraculous purchase, to a significant organization committed to leading for the sake of others. Art has presented the servant leadership message to a wide variety of corporate, government, and non-profit audiences throughout the United States, and he’s particularly effective in reaching other executives who want to make a difference in the world.
Grace Care Management attended a 2013 Servant Leadership Conference and these principles are some of the core values of our company and practice as care managers in San Diego. We can’t say enough great things about their message and encourage you to attend one of their upcoming conferences to learn more about becoming a servant leader. Servant leadership is an emerging paradigm for successful companies who’ve found ways to serve both clients and associates in a more collaborative business model. This model reconciles the old labor verses management, top down architectures, which are not productive for any company that values long term commitment of their employees and creating healthy corporate cultures that generate superior outcomes for all involved.
What is Servant Leadership?
Servant leadership is a smart leadership approach with a moral imperative to lead for the sake of others. Great leaders model behaviors that equip and inspire others toward individual and community greatness. It requires leaders to turn the traditional hierarchical chart upside down where they now see that they SERVE the whole organization rather than the other way around. They do not see their employees as tools, but as humans with dignity who they can empower to make a difference.
How does one become a Servant Leader?
AT&T executive Robert Greenleaf launched the modern servant leadership movement in corporate America in 1968, noting that servant leadership begins with “the natural feeling that one wants to serve.” There are two tests to assess whether you are acting like a servant leader:
- Do those you serve grow?
- Do they, while being served, become healthier, wise, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants? Do you positively affect the least privileged in society?
Recently, this method of combined leadership and stewardship that maximizes profits, people, and the planet has transformed corporate and non-profit cultures around the world. In addition to Datron World Communications, Inc., well-known organizations that have successfully implemented servant leadership include Southwest Airlines, TD Industries, WD-40, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Nordstrom, Toro Company, Zappos, and Starbucks.
What are the benefits that a business and/or individual gains from practicing Servant Leadership?
Servant leadership is designed to increase the self-determination, self-confidence, and self-sacrifice of everyone.
“Servant leadership has been called the most successful leadership strategy in overcoming lackluster employee performances, poor financial results, and executive self-interests,” said SLI Founder & CEO Art Barter. “Our goal is to challenge traditional perceptions of leadership and teach a smarter way to lead that truly makes a difference in our world.”
Servant Leadership produces a culture of mutual trust, increased work efficiency, performance, and creativity while creating and encouraging engaged people who enjoy bringing value to their work every day.
How often are the Servant Leadership conferences and what can one expect to gain from attending?
Servant Leadership Institute hosts an annual Winter Conference in beautiful San Diego every February. This conference is the perfect place to learn about this growing global movement from those who’ve adopted it–and now seek to inspire others to follow their lead. This year’s conference theme is called Changing the Game. Innovative companies are discovering that embracing servant leadership to influence people without using traditional power-model strategies maximizes their talents and positively affects the bottom line. This two-day conference is packed with game-changing information presented over three innings:
- 1st inning: Connect-Be a Game Changer
- 2nd inning: Trust-Change the Game of Trust
- 3rd inning: Act-Keeping Score: How to Achieve Results
In addition to gaining knowledge about servant leadership from a team of respected speakers, attendees will participate in stimulating workshops as well as a Geoteaming activity for a local charity at PETCO Park, the downtown home of the San Diego Padres.
“The conference opened my eyes to what it really means to be a leader, said attendee, Sam Anguiano of GTC Systems in San Diego. “As a result, I have made a personal commitment to help others and lead with others’ growth in mind.”
SLI will also launch a series of monthly servant leadership workshops, webinars and a BRAND NEW special summer conference in 2014. Visit www.servantleadershipinstitute.com for updates on these events.
Where can we find out more information?
For more information about Servant Leadership Institute, visit:
www.servantleadershipinstitute.com.
Call us at: 855-SLI-LEAD (855-754-5323) and speak to one of our SLI team members who are happy to listen and serve you well.
