The SERVE Model

Overview

In Uncommon Greatness Mark Miller presents the SERVE model, the essential skills and character traits that must be adopted by anyone who desires to be an excellent leader. The relationship between these two categories, the skills and the traits, is akin to an iceberg: the skills of a leader comprise the 10% that is visible to those they lead, "above the water's surface." The other 90%, what's unseen "beneath the surface," is what really makes them who they are: their heart.

Leadership is a relationship. Relationships need to be taken seriously, meaning we need to be intentional about with whom we enter into relationship and how we nurture those relationships. It is not prudent to rely on those who are not deserving of our trust or who do not care about the things we care about.  One common trait to look for when leading

How can you tell if someone is fully engaged? Look for the four E's:

• Energy

• Enthusiasm

• Engagement

• Excellence

"Don't give your time and energy to people who drain you, give it to people who are engaged."

Once you have people who are fully engaged, it's important to keep them engaged and help them grow. Remember, "It's not your job to do their job." Challenge each other. Encourage one another. Learn from each other. Be willing to share responsibilities. Hold each other accountable. Virtuous friendships pursue something outside the personal satisfaction of either individual.

'If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."

The world in which we live is constantly changing. Different things change at different paces, but everything is constantly changing; even we ourselves are constantly changing. Therefore, it's important for us to pay attention to what is changing, how it's changing, why it's changing, and how rapidly it's changing. Not only that, but we need be ready to change along with it.

There are three big truths to keep in mind regarding change:

1. Progress is always preceded by change

2. The fundamental role of the leader is to create positive change

3. There is tremendous risk when applying yesterday's solutions to today's problems

As we navigate change, it's important that we communicate through the process:

• Identify the need for change

• Communicate appropriately

• Build support

Results-oriented people focus on getting things done. Relationships-oriented people focus on people, what makes them tick, and how to work together.

It's natural to have a bias for one or the other. In fact, everyone has a bias. It's important to know your bias but also be intentional about valuing both. Embracing both will inevitably create tension, and leaders must learn to embrace and manage this tension. Leaders are expected to produce results, but desirable results will only be sustainably produced through others if the leader values their people.

Where do you start? Become a student of people. Start by listening, really listening. Listen to what others say and how they say it. Not only that, listen to what they don't say. Invest time to understand how your team views their work.

This is the 90% that's unseen in a leader. To be a truly great leader, there are five critical habits of the HEART you must adopt:

Hunger for Wisdom

Great leaders are great learners. Your continued growth and development is ultimately your responsibility, so it's important to prioritize setting aside time to grow, because growing people grow stuff. Noise gets on your schedule whether you schedule it or not, but silence won't get on your schedule unless you schedule it. Here are some tips to help with learning daily:

• Set aside time

• Develop a routine

• Establish consistent habits

When faced with a challenge, you do not rise to the occasion; you sink to the level of your training. So make sure to train every day.

Expect the Best

The very best choose a positive attitude. This is not blind optimism; it simply means making a conscious decision to maintain a positive outlook. Pessimists are timid and avoid risk. People don't follow pessimists. You cannot control your circumstances, but you have complete control over your attitude.

Accept Responsibility

Ownership is a person's willingness to assume responsibility for their actions and the actions of those they lead. People accept responsibility because they believe in the vision. This is part of why seeing the future is so important.

Respond with Courage

Leaders are never comfortable being comfortable, they are comfortable being courageous. It is important to have a proper understanding of what courage is. Courage is not to be confused with fearlessness.

To be fearless is to be without fear, which is actually quite dangerous. Fear is a good thing, an essential element to our survival, so to be fearless is to be foolish. Courage, on the other hand, can be thought of as recognition of one's fear and choosing to act in spite of that fear. Courage acknowledges that fear exists, but it does not let that fear have control.

Think Others First

"Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value." - Albert Einstein

The word value is derived from the Latin valere, which means, "to be strong, well, of worth, of value."

Leaders constantly look for how they can add value to others. However, adding value to others in order to become valuable misses the point. It's important to bear in mind that you cannot add value to people if you do not value people.