Servant Leadership Skills For South African Managers Training

Objectives:
• Define servant leadership and contrast it with traditional leadership models.
• Understand the relevance of servant leadership in post-apartheid South Africa.
• Identify the core principles of servant leadership as per Unit Standard 116037.
• Recognise the role of Ubuntu in servant leadership.
• Set personal learning goals for the course.

Topics:
• Origins and philosophy of servant leadership (Robert Greenleaf).
• Key characteristics: listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualisation, foresight, stewardship, commitment to growth, building community.
• The South African context: diversity, inequality, and transformation.
• Ubuntu: 'I am because we are' and its alignment with servant leadership.
• Unit Standard 116037 outcomes and assessment criteria.
• Self-assessment: current leadership style and areas for development.

Objectives:
• Adopt a service-oriented mindset over self-interest.
• Practise active listening and empathetic communication.
• Identify barriers to servant leadership in South African workplaces.
• Develop strategies to build trust and respect among team members.

Topics:
• The shift from 'power over' to 'power with'.
• Active listening techniques: reflecting, clarifying, summarising.
• Empathy in action: understanding diverse perspectives.
• Overcoming hierarchical mindsets and resistance.
• Trust-building exercises and case studies.
• Journaling: personal reflections on service.

Objectives:
• Understand the importance of community in servant leadership.
• Facilitate inclusive team meetings and decision-making.
• Manage conflict constructively within diverse teams.
• Apply Ubuntu principles to strengthen team cohesion.

Topics:
• Creating a sense of belonging in multicultural teams.
• Inclusive communication: language, non-verbal cues, and cultural sensitivity.
• Conflict resolution: interest-based negotiation and mediation.
• Collaborative decision-making: consensus building.
• Team-building activities rooted in servant leadership.
• Case study: successful community-building in a South African organisation.

Objectives:
• Distinguish between delegation and dumping.
• Apply coaching techniques to develop team members.
• Identify and nurture the potential in others.
• Create individual development plans aligned with organisational goals.

Topics:
• The art of empowerment: sharing power and responsibility.
• Delegation frameworks: situational leadership and readiness levels.
• Coaching skills: questioning, goal-setting, feedback.
• Mentoring for growth: reverse mentoring in diverse contexts.
• Overcoming fear of losing control.
• Practical workshop: developing a coaching conversation script.

Objectives:
• Define stewardship and its role in servant leadership.
• Apply ethical decision-making frameworks.
• Address ethical dilemmas common in South African management.
• Promote transparency and accountability in teams.

Topics:
• Stewardship: responsibility for resources, people, and the environment.
• Ethical theories: deontology, utilitarianism, and virtue ethics.
• South African ethical challenges: corruption, nepotism, and inequality.
• Decision-making models: the ethical triangle and the PLUS model.
• Whistleblowing and organisational justice.
• Role-play: handling an ethical dilemma in the workplace.

Objectives:
• Develop foresight to anticipate future challenges and opportunities.
• Apply conceptualisation skills to envision a compelling future.
• Align servant leadership with organisational strategy.
• Use systems thinking to understand organisational dynamics.

Topics:
• Foresight: learning from the past, understanding the present, creating the future.
• Conceptualisation: moving from day-to-day to big picture.
• Strategic alignment: linking servant leadership to business goals.
• Systems thinking: identifying leverage points for change.
• Scenario planning for South African organisations.
• Workshop: creating a vision statement for your team.

Objectives:
• Master persuasive communication based on service, not coercion.
• Build influence through credibility, trust, and reciprocity.
• Handle difficult conversations with grace and assertiveness.
• Use storytelling to inspire and connect.

Topics:
• The power of persuasion: ethos, pathos, logos.
• Building personal credibility and trust.
• Nonviolent communication: observations, feelings, needs, requests.
• Assertiveness vs. aggression: speaking up respectfully.
• Storytelling as a leadership tool.
• Practice: delivering a persuasive message to a sceptical audience.

Objectives:
• Understand change management models and their application.
• Lead change with a servant heart: addressing fear and resistance.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and learning.
• Champion diversity and inclusion as a servant leader.

Topics:
• Change models: Kotter's 8-step, ADKAR, and appreciative inquiry.
• The human side of change: emotions and transitions.
• Communicating change: vision, rationale, and support.
• Building resilience in teams.
• Diversity and inclusion: moving beyond compliance to belonging.
• Case study: leading transformation in a South African company.

Objectives:
• Synthesise all course concepts into a coherent leadership philosophy.
• Complete the Unit Standard 116037 assessment tasks.
• Develop a personal action plan for ongoing servant leadership growth.
• Commit to a community of practice for continued support.

Topics:
• Review of key learning from Days 1-8.
• Assessment: portfolio of evidence and practical demonstration.
• Peer feedback and reflection.
• Creating a personal development plan: goals, resources, timeline.
• Establishing a servant leadership network.
• Closing ceremony and certification.