Course 2: Becoming a 7 Cups Leader - (Discussion #2) Service Leadership at 7 Cups
Please note: In order to successfully complete Course 2, you must respond to this post. Your comment/response should answer the questions/shows that you completed the given activity (if any). Read the post carefully and follow the instructions given. Save your responses to a document that you can later refer to. You will need to copy/paste your response in the course evaluation form at the end of each course to show that you have done the work and to refresh your memory.
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Being a leader at 7 Cups takes many forms. One thing every listener has in common is that we are all agents of service. Whether we are taking member chats or we are welcoming a new listener to the community, every unique contribution made by listeners is equally wonderful and valuable.
There are many ways to spend our  volunteer time at 7 Cups. Some of you will choose to focus on member chats and others will choose to be involved with our community programs, or both!  No matter which path, all contributions are considered incredibly valuable and special.
The term  Service leadership  (based on the philosophy of servant leadership, in  which the main goal of the leader is to serve)  can be explained in this way:  "Traditional leadership generally involves the accumulation and exercise of power by one at the top of the pyramid. By comparison, the servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible."
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!
Leadership - Becoming a Teen Star, Mentor, Mentor Leader or Ambassador.
Weve long said⦠that if you want to be a mentor, be a mentor, eventually youll 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.
One misconception I have heard floating around is that once youre in one of these roles you need to do more, be more, show more, etc. The reality could not be any further from the truth. These roles signify contributions that are currently being made & are not about contributions we hope these individuals will make in the future.
Another way to think about this is - Â if youre accepted to be a mentor leader or ambassador, we will not be giving you more work. Our aim is to honor the work you have been previously/currently doing. In fact, wed love for you to add more self-care to your regular routine. These titles are reserved for successful project leaders & community members who are already involved in community engagement projects and actively making a positive impact. In some cases, we may give you more tools to do your specific projects more effectively.
In this sense, 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. Dont take on more than you are able. If you dont 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! Â
If youd 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 youre 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.
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Questions: What do you think of the idea of service leadership? Can you list one example of service leadership you have seen on 7 Cups?
How can you become a better "servant' to our community?
Activity: Please reply to 3 of your peers  in this thread with encouraging or supportive words!
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Questions: 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 when a leader works by being Passionate, Engaging and Leading to Serve. The leader is comapsionate to the team, is a mentor to them, , is not selfish and takes decisions keeping the betterment of community in mind over their personal interests
A mentor or a coach is a good example of a service leader at 7cups
How can you become a better "servant' to our community?
Can become a better servant by supporting my fellow listeners and members in all my capacities and with all my experinece and trainings and going that extra step to encourage, support and instill the values of this community to newbies and those in need for any guidance in my curent roles as a quality mentor and a listener coach
@blissart being compassionate is key to be a good service leader. Thinking of others and working does make things more fullfilling
@Heather225
What do you think of the idea of service leadership? Can you list one example of service leadership you have seen on 7 Cups?
How can you become a better "servant' to our community?
To me service leadership is a wonderful idea. I have seen listeners attending to distressed members in the chatroom, after discussions and after sharing circles. To become a better ''servant'' to the community, you need to be a great listener and follow the rules and have no behaviour reports.
@azuladragon34
Behaving withing the 7 cups community Rules are important. Good point Azu
@azuladragon34 Agreed!
@azuladragon34
I agree that it is important to follow the community rules. Do you have any additional thoughts on how offer better service leadership?
@azuladragon34
Service Leadership is a wonderful idea indeed!
What do you think of the idea of service leadership?
To me Service leadership is very apt for what we do in 7 cups. It's the kind of leadership where in we focus on being of help to others rather than following the pyramid structure of leadership.
Can you list one example of service leadership you have seen on 7 Cups?
I've been fortunate to see many kinds of Service Leadership here on cups be it listeners, peers, chat support, mods, mentors, ambassadors they all work towards helping one another.
How can you become a better "servant' to our community?
Doing what I can to my best ability. Being honest and knowing when to step back and ask for help. Caring for others and not forgetting to care for myself.
@Magicallykermit58
I love your response! I also really like how you mentioned knowing when it might be time to take a step back and ask for help can help you become a better "servant," I definitely agree!
@Heather225
▶︎ What do you think of the idea of service leadership?
For years, part of my own understanding of leadership is working to serve and help others in your community, rather than amassing power or recognition, so the idea of service leadership on 7 Cups fits nicely into my understanding of what it means to be a leader overall. Leadership is not just a position that you hold, but is found in your every interaction with others.
▶︎ Can you list one example of service leadership you have seen on 7 Cups?
The beautiful thing about 7 Cups is how we are a community of volunteers. All of us listeners are volunteering time to serve others, to provide emotional support and build up a warm and welcoming community to others. I especially admire listeners who focus not on roles or badges, but on their every interaction with the community, working to help both members and listeners that they come across feel welcome and supported. That is not to say that roles are bad—far from it. I have seen plenty of wonderful listeners working to serve others as members of subcommunity teams, or who consistently appear in the group rooms and help build up the sense of community there, or the verifying others as part of the Verifiers team, or offering to help coach newer listeners as members of the Listener Coaching Team, just to name a few examples!
▶︎ How can you become a better "servant' to our community?
I have been a listener for quite some time now and have been invested in leadership roles since the start, but I have always found that there is room to learn and grow. Lately, I have been focusing more on members, setting goals for myself to take chats more consistently and with more regularity, and to become a friendly face in the group rooms and in the forums by frequenting them more often.
@IvyL
i feel this sentence ivy &-&
Leadership is not just a position that you hold, but is found in your every interaction with others.
@IvyL
I love that you primed ourselves as agents of the community. We work to better ourselves and our overarching community. Great job.
@IvyL
I love your intimate, loving, and committed approach to 7Cups, that your answers reflect very well.
@VioletVenom
I like your idea about servant leadership,
@Heather225
What do you think of the idea of service leadership? I really like the concept of servant leadership. To me, it makes a much better business model than those focused on profit margins and bottom line numbers.
Can you list one example of service leadership you have seen on 7 Cups? I think quality mentors are one of the best examples of service leadeship here at 7 Cups. I know my mentor has been there to support me and cheer along with me. My mentor wants to see me succeed in whatever roles I choose.
How can you become a better "servant' to our community? I think leading by example could help me become a better 'servant' to the community. Being willing to role up your sleeves and work along side those who you lead and for those leaders who teach you, directly or indirectly.
@PeaceLoveandPaws
Yes! Teaching others is an excellent way to show and express leadership!
@PeaceLoveandPaws I loved the "rolling up your sleeves". Sometimes it's tough to really get down to the hard work that these roles sometimes have. <3 what a great attitude!
@PeaceLoveandPaws
Great answer!
@PeaceLoveandPaws
I agree! It's a way better way to organise a company than the profit margin model!
@PeaceLoveandPaws
I like your thought about service leadership. It's true that profit and margin are all leader care about in some company. Glad that you find a mentor helpful. Keep on doing your great work.
@PeaceLoveandPaws
Wise reflections.
Leading by example is a noble and effective way to lead.
@PeaceLoveandPaws
Great answer.
@PeaceLoveandPaws
Your answer is brilliant!
@PeaceLoveandPaws
willing to do and work long with leader and team. That thought process made you so awesome leader Paws.
@PeaceLoveandPaws
I totally agree with everything that you’ve said here! This makes perfect sense!
Yes! Quality mentors are the best answer, amazing!
@Heather225
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 is being open to what work is needed. I see new people in leadership on the regular on 7 Cups.
How can you become a better "servant' to our community?
I would love to spend more time in forums and chats.
@Mellietronx
great point! i also love how just everyone is stepping up to face the need they see and how they are able to do that as any role isn't reserved for anyone ^^
@Mellietronx
That's a great idea! :)
@Mellietronx I also have seen so many new leaders - what a great observation! I also hope you're doing well in the forums and chats! :)
@Mellietronx
Awesome response. Good work :)
Being open to what work is needed is. A good way to go. @Mellietronx
@Mellietronx
Forums and chats are a great way to be in touch with other listeners as well as members! :D
@Mellietronx that sounds like a good plan to demonstrate service leadership
@Mellietronx
Spending time in forum it awesome as it not easy task. Best of luck Mellie.
@Heather225
What do you think of the idea of service leadership?
i like the idea alot and i think that it is the way which would give back the most to the leader when the leader isn't even asking for a payback but i also think it is an ideal and can't be seen alot around the world, it requires "real passion" and belief in the mission ^^
Can you list one example of service leadership you have seen on 7 Cups?
honestly every leader in cups is a service leader as no one who is here would be here if they weren't passionate about 7cups' mission, they wouldn't dedicate so much of their time to be a leader rather in giving love and support in 1-1s or becoming a leader focused on rooms, forums or other special projects!
How can you become a better "servant' to our community?
by remembering that quality is always before quantity so i shouldn't take on more than what i can really the get best out of it and by never getting to the feeling that as a leader i am any higher and any moderation tools is more than a way to help me help others!
@Listeningsarinn
Love your response! <3
@Helpingsoul98
Oh thanksss😻💜💜
@Listeningsarinn
'Quality is before quantity'
Man I reflected to it. Thanks for remainder. Have a beautiful day ahead.
@Listeningsarinn
Heya Sarinn! Before I mention the your awesome content, I really love your color-coding :) Also, back to it, I completely agree that service leadership requires some "real passion" and really just some people that are very motivated and interested not by rewards, but by interest. Perhaps the whole service leadership is also the best way to find leaders and people who are interested for the mission and not the rewards :o and awww, I love how you mentioned every leader is a service leader <3 When you mentioned about "taking on more than what I can really get the best out of it" was very heartfelt, and I 100% agree with that! Thank you for this awesome post Sarinn!
@Listeningsarinn
Quality over quantity -Short and thoughtful.
Awesome response!
Have a nice day<3
@Listeningsarinn
good call. Quality before quantity. I admire that ☺️
One way I can personally see myself becoming a better servant leader is by being more active in our 7cups community! I've been slacking a bit and I've slowly been going out more on 7cups, exploring different subcommunities and talking to more people in both chats and group chats!
@Heather225
Hi! How are you?
I think it is absolutely great. We aren t looking for power. We are working to make a difference. I think that s the leadership we need.
One example are the moderators: they lead to make the room a better room.
To be a better servant, I can practice our values, I can understand what I need to understand, I can keep up with the helpful actions, I can care and act on it, I can support, I can work to make a difference, and I can try my very best.
@Daf8 you are right. Mods are do a lot of stuffs to maintain discipline. And hey you are already making a difference 🤗
@Petrichor2000 @Daf8
Hi Daf! Aww, I really love all the hearts throughout your post; it's really so warming :) Your explanation about service leadership was "working to make a difference" rather than "for power" was awesome; some super powerful, inspirational, and quote-worthy statements. This is for sure the leadership we need! and I agree that the moderators are here to better support our group support chatrooms as well. and the values, understanding, and simply trying our best are also awesome ways to become a better servant! Thank you for the wonderful post, Daf :)
@Daf8
I love your response. Very thought-provoking!!
@Heather225 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 means a lot to me because it's not about one person. You are working among others for the greater good. I love that here at 7 Cups there is always someone there to lean on, no matter your position. The Listener Support Room is amazing because I can always count on someone there to help me with anything I need. One example of service leadership that I have seen here on 7 Cups is when @EccentricPanda reached out to me when I was really struggling with a chat and was struggling to separate my emotions and the need to end a chat. They reached out to me and helped me talk out what I was feeling.
How can you become a better "servant' to our community? One way I can become a better servant to our community is by learning to say no and realize that just because sometimes I only want to take members chat, that I am not less than mentors or ambassadors. I am definitely an overachiever and I want to do everything, but I have to realize that it's not always possible. I also have to be kinder to myself. My semester just started, so I had to tell myself that it was okay that I stopped taking chats for a while to focus on my schoolwork. Plus, I am doing the LDP! So I think that is more than enough for now! :)
@LittleBirdie30
Yup self care is more important and it's great to know your insights.🤗🤗
I agree, amazing answers!
@LittleBirdie30
Your response was very insightful!!
