Your team is divided on the best approach to reach a shared goal. How can you unite them towards success?

1 Listen First

Listening is the cornerstone of servant leadership. When faced with division, take the time to hear each team member's perspective without judgment. This demonstrates respect for their expertise and concerns, which can build trust and open the doors to compromise. Active listening also helps you to identify the underlying issues causing the divide, whether it's a lack of resources, fear of change, or misaligned priorities. With a clear understanding of each viewpoint, you can begin to craft a strategy that incorporates the strengths of each approach.

2 Encourage Dialogue

Once you've listened, encourage a dialogue among team members. Facilitate a space where everyone feels safe to express their ideas and concerns. This can be through structured meetings or informal discussions, but the key is to ensure that the conversation remains constructive. As a servant leader, your role is to guide the discussion, helping to highlight common ground and shared values. Through open dialogue, team members will start to see the merits in each other's approaches and how they might be combined into a cohesive plan.

5 Reflect and Adapt

Reflection is critical in servant leadership. After implementing a strategy, take time with your team to reflect on what is working and what isn't. This isn't about assigning blame but rather learning from experience and adapting as necessary. By regularly reflecting on progress and processes, you create an environment where continuous improvement is the norm. This also shows your team that their input is valued and that strategies can evolve based on their feedback, further uniting them towards the shared goal.

7 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?