May I introduce you to my friend, Dee Ann Turner? She is Vice President, Corporate Talent, for Chick-fil-A, where she began her career more than 30 years ago.

Dee Ann believes people are the most powerful commodity in any organization, and companies that recognize the value of individuals can succeed not just ethically, but financially as well. In addition to serving on the boards of the Kenya Project and Proverbs 31 ministry, the married mother of the three is also active with a variety of family-focused missions that support women and children. http://www.deeannturner.com

Faith at Work: Five Principles of Servant Leadership

Is there an image that comes to mind when you think of servant leadership? My mind immediately goes to the Upper Room and I picture Jesus washing the disciple’s feet. That act was only one representation of the many acts of service demonstrated by Jesus as a role model to all of his followers.

There is another image that comes to my mind. During 15 of my years at Chick-fil-A, I reported to a leader, who both modeled and taught servant leadership. He learned it himself from a Chick-fil-A Operator, who modeled it for him when he was only a teenager working in the Operator’s restaurant. The impact of one Operator on one teenaged team member, who later became a senior executive at Chick-fil-A, has helped shape the behaviors of the entire Chick-fil-A chain.

This leader’s example taught five critical principles of servant leadership:

• Don’t expect others to do what you are unwilling to do. One of the things that I learned from my leader was that I needed to spend time working side by side with my team. When they are in the trenches, I need to be in the trenches. When there is a challenging opportunity, I need to be available to help solve the problem. For years, Chick-fil-A has sponsored the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl™. My leader did not sit in a box seat and watch the game, but instead, he worked right along with his operations team and local Operators preparing and serving thousands of Chick-fil-A sandwiches. Be willing to serve in any capacity needed and set the example for the whole team.

• Acknowledge that every member of the team is important. In traveling to Chick-fil-A restaurants with my leader, I watched as the very first thing he did was to introduce himself to every member of the team, learning names and asking questions to know them better. He rarely forgets a face or a name and Operators, team members and staff alike, often feel valued that he takes the time to know them personally. Like his Operator did for him, he remembers to thank each team member for his service. Every member of a team has a role and wants to feel valued for serving in that role.

• If there is a line, be the last one in it. Recently, I attended an event that required a bus to transport the 1,200 attendees. As 1,200 people took turns boarding the buses, this same executive was the very last one on the last bus. All the while, he was talking and visiting with staff members usingthe time to catch up both personally and professionally with staff from all areas of the company. Putting others above yourself is the hallmark of a servant leader.

• Share opportunities and privileges with those who might otherwise never have the opportunity. Not long after I joined Chick-fil-A, my husband and I wereI flying on a Chick-fil-A charter flight to our annual Operators seminar. At that time, I served in the role of an administrator. Truthfully, I was just glad to be able to attend the seminar. When we boarded the plane, we found that our seats were in first class. I watched as company executives passed through the first class section to the take their seats in the economy cabin. I later learned that it was common practice among our company ownership to use perks normally offered to them to surprise and delight others.

• Be inclusive. Inclusivity is important to creating and growing a compelling culture. After taking the time to carefully select talent, it is important to include them by seeking opinions from all the talent available to us. Jesus was an inclusive servant leader. He served people from all walks of life and different backgrounds. We honor and serve people well when we do the same.

A team’s culture is strengthened significantly when leaders model and exhibit servant leader attitudes and behaviors. The culture grows exponentially when everyone on the team practices and exhibits servant leadership.

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