Course 3, Discussion 1: Service Leadership at 7 Cups
The term Service leadership (based on the philosophy of servant leadership, in which the main goal of the leader is to serve). Sometimes leaders or community members who help with projects receive high praise for their efforts (and they all deserve it) but this is never to take away or undermine the contributions of listeners who fly a little bit more under the radar. How one chooses to spend their volunteer time on 7 Cups is up to them & we love you all the same!
We've long said that if you want to be a mentor, be a mentor, eventually you'll get a badge. These service leadership roles are incredibly important to the functionality of our community. The individuals in these posts do an excellent job helping to keep our community safe and positive. I am very thankful for them.
Service leadership is simply about where you plan to spend your time. To those of you out there who focus 100% on member chats, we LOVE YOU! To those of you out there who focus on community programs, we LOVE YOU TOO! All of these contributions are equally valuable and important. As a collective community, our aim is to honor your contributions, no matter where or how they manifest.
In this vein, my hope is that you will remember 3 key things:
1. Self-care - always! Make sure self-care is baked into your volunteer work here
2. Don't take on more than you are able. If you don't have the bandwidth to do something, you owe it to yourself and the community to say no. It is 100% okay to say no. (And if you are asking someone to help you with a project, please do not get upset if someone has to say no.)
3. Remember that 7 Cups is an ecosystem. Every single contribution matters!
If you'd like to be in a service leadership role, my advice would be:
1. Pay attention to how others are contributing
2. Figure out what gets you excited in the community!
3. Once you have an idea of what gets you excited, dive in! You dont need to have a mentor badge to help out, get involved & start learning.
4. If you're not sure how to get involved, you can chat with a mentor or sign up for listener coaching.
5. Once you feel comfortable with your area of attention, apply for the appropriate mentor track.
✒️ Question: What do you think of the idea of service leadership? Can you list one example of service leadership you have seen on 7 Cups?
✒️ Please reply to at least 1 of your peers in this thread with encouraging or supportive words!
❗After fulfilling the requirements of this post, please check out the next post here!
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@FrenchToastClub
Question: What do you think of the idea of service leadership? Can you list one example of service leadership you have seen on 7 Cups? Service leadership is leadership where the goal is to serve. I see this in forum supporters and community mods and basically everywhere honestly:)
@Rubylistens22
That's a great example, Ruby. 😇 They are always around, we can always count on them.
@FrenchToastClub
✒️ Question: What do you think of the idea of service leadership? Can you list one example of service leadership you have seen on 7 Cups?
🌟 Isn't every role on 7C an example of service leadership? Whether you're solely a l-l listener, or you're responding/posting check-ins in the forum, or facilitating a guided session in group chat, reassuring another listener after a tough chat, etc, you're performing service leadership. <3 All roles are leadership roles with or without badges.
✒️ Please reply to at least 1 of your peers in this thread with encouraging or supportive words!
@FrenchToastClub
@broadfemmelovelive
I love the example you gave, it offers a different perspective I didn't really think about. Listeners without leadership position can also provide service leadership. Also hi hi! I see our paths crossed again haha.
@richuyulin
Haha thanks for that :) and hi hi
✒️ Question: What do you think of the idea of service leadership? Can you list one example of service leadership you have seen on 7 Cups?
Service leadership is defined as when someone has the heart to serve, has the courage to engage, and answers the call to lead. I think the idea of service leadership is pretty great because it would be fulfilling work for those involved and help better the community overall.
@FrenchToastClub
✒️ Question: What do you think of the idea of service leadership? Can you list one example of service leadership you have seen on 7 Cups?
I love the idea of service leadership - to serve where you can, when you can, how you can. I've seen this from listeners reaching out to other new listeners to cheer them on, offer to help them out if needed, or those responding to members in forums or in chats.
I agree with that! We do not need roles to play a role! 😊
What do you think of the idea of service leadership? Can you list one example of service leadership you have seen on 7 Cups?
I think all good leadership is service leadership. Leaders are there to serve. We are all working towards a common goal. Everyone is part of it, even members. In the chatrooms, discussions and Sharing Circles we all work together.
I think we should pay more attention to the contributions of those that are less visible. Appreciation goes a long way.
It is especially those with less prominent roles or without roles who are integral to the site working well. Those with "bigger" roles should try to express that frequently.
@MagnificentSunrise
I love this!
@MagnificentSunrise I really like how you stressed the importance of appreciating roles that aren't as obvious and receive less praise in general. I think in our professional lives it is very easy to volunteer just as an accolade or something to put in a resume, rather than actually prioritizing the impact it makes above what role you pick. Every role is meaningful!
@MagnificentSunrise
Excellent !! 👍
@FrenchToastClub
✒️ Question: What do you think of the idea of service leadership? Can you list one example of service leadership you have seen on 7 Cups?
I think it's an excellent way to be a leader, and learn how to manage your time well. I've seen plenty of service leadership within the group chats!
@jadenrjc7
I appreciate the way you described your answer. Good job!
@FrenchToastClub
✒️ Question: What do you think of the idea of service leadership? Can you list one example of service leadership you have seen on 7 Cups?
I love the idea of service leadership. I think this is the best way to move forward and that all forms of good leadership tap into this ideology at some level or another. Every good community thrives through the service of others.
@GermanZebraCupcake
Every community thrives through the cooperation of services. Leading by providing without expectations of anything in return, including recognition, is the height of personal values.
You said so much in such an important idea in so little words. I don't think the idea or affect on a community can ever be put into enough words.
@SnowTabby Great answer!
@FrenchToastClub
I wasn't sure how to answer this question until today.
A check-in session was held today by @GoldenNest2727 because he said the wrong day but stayed true to his word. With lucky timing, I showed up right at the beginning and had a lovely conversation about leadership. This is my example of service leadership.
The conversation held a lot of self-awareness and openness in uniqueness relating to leadership techniques as well as adjusting to our strengths and self-care expectations.
At the end, I was offered a link to apply to be a room supporter that I gladly accepted. Taking the initiative to bring someone in that was seen as empathetic and inclusive is my idea of service leadership.
Might have been there to purposefully lead but the responsibility wasn't to recruit but to listen and guide. Bringing resources that I wasn't sure how to find is important.
This whole idea is important and I learned something too. Stepping further away from electronics (even a desktop versus cell phone) is a huge shift in expression.
✒️ Question: What do you think of the idea of service leadership? Can you list one example of service leadership you have seen on 7 Cups?
Service leadership is an approach to leadership that emphasizes serving others and meeting their needs as a primary focus. It involves a mindset of selflessness and a commitment to helping others succeed. Service leaders prioritize the well being and development of their team members ~ which I think is really important :)
Example - A mentor
@TabbyCat97
Well said. I appreciate your definition of 'Service Leadership'.
@TabbyCat97 Couldn't agree more. It brings a focus on holistic development than a "I want you do this, so it must be done", along the lines of "Could we plan to do this ? Would it be possible to achieve this with the vision I have for it ? Let's discuss !"
@TabbyCat97 Fantastic example! Good luck on the rest of your journey ahead.
