Course 2: Becoming a 7 Cups Leader - (Discussion #2) Service Leadership at 7 Cups

@Dino12 A healthy environment is one of the most important qualities for good working of the community.

Hey I love seeing members interacting in chat rooms too! I haven't been in chatrooms much these days but I always remember how kind they were!

Really loved your idea of service leadership. I think it actually brings out the best of what 7 cups has to offer.

@Heather225

Service leadership to me is using the experience that I've gained so far to support and guide others.

When I first became a listener, I remember that I used to find listening more challenging than I do now, something that newcomers may get through as well. To become better we need both support and guidance as active listening and emotional support may be tricky and not the easiest to adapt in the first place. I would like to be an example for others and help them in their listening journey as I have been helped as well.

There's something that I believe is tricky for all of us and I continue to work on to better serve the community. Sometimes out of good intentions, we try to help someone with kind and uplifting words, which is great and generally helps, but we forget to give them time and space to express themselves and actually listen to them. Sometimes just being present helps a lot and answering after listening to someone's words makes us more effective into the point and increases trust. Don't forget to listen. Even if what you listen to may sound crazy. It's someone's truth. And it may mean the world to them. A truth that needs just to be heard and that nobody else listens to. We can never know what someone is getting through no matter how impossible it may sound. I hope to become a good leader and continue evolving.

@SofiaT2000

Loved your response Sofia! Sometimes just being there with people is way enough than trying to solve their problems. I totally agree with that. You're doing a great job and I truly appreciate all the work you do here

@SofiaT2000

I loved the responses! Keep up the awesome work!

@cocoakrispies121 That's great to hear! You too!

@SofiaT2000

Couldn't have said it better myself! Fantastic response you clearly put thought into it 🙂

@Azalea98 Thank you so much! You do great Azalea! Keep it up!

@SofiaT2000

That's so inspiring! To just be there to listen; not judge, not say empty kind words but to understand their truth and really listen. Sounds like you learned alot in your journey! Cheers! Servant leadership truly is the best way to grow

@SofiaT2000

I really love your response and your points of view! <3

@SofiaT2000

Really a great response!

@SofiaT2000

I agree! Great response. I like the “dont forget to listen” part. Your explanation is wonderful! Well done

@SofiaT2000 I loved your response. I agree listening is truly a wonderful thing :) <3

@SofiaT2000
I appreciate all your bold points sofia and I am sure you are on the verse of becoming the best version of yourself. :)

Questions: What do you think of the idea of service leadership? I think there is more freedom and room for inspiration and innovation in service leadership. Authoritative leaders may be followed grudgingly. Service leaders bring out the joy in others.

Can you list one example of service leadership you have seen on 7 Cups? I see how the quality mentors and leadership coaches help listeners in a selfless way to experience the joy of successful listening.

How can you become a better "servant' to our community? The most important starting place to serve the community is to shrink the part of ourselves that says "it is all about me" and realize and practice that "we are all in this together".


Activity: Please reply to 3 of your peers  in this thread with encouraging or supportive words!

@soulsings

Thank you for sharing this! It is nice to see how the community helps each others to grow selflessly.

@DreamTouch Thank you Dream! It means a lot to me ❤️

@soulsings

I loved the part where you talked about expanding on "we are all in this together."

@cocoakrispies121 thanks for that vote of confidence. I appreciate that so much!

@soulsings

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Service Leadership. I have definitely seen you practising it while leading discussions =)

@soulsings

All answers are on-spot. Brilliant! ⭐︎ Love it.

Indeed we are all in this together ❤️

@soulsings

Great answers! Well done. 😊

@Heather225

What do you think of the idea of service leadership?
I like the idea of service leadership as it encourages empathy and works in a way that benefits everyone, and has a room for growth

Can you list one example of service leadership you have seen on 7 Cups?
Mentoring could be a best example of service leadership, providing feedback, helping fellow listeners on their growth. Working together for growth of all members of the community shows us the concept of service leadership in 7cups.

How can you become a better "servant' to our community?
I can be a better servant through self commitment to the community and through active listening and empathy.

@DreamTouch I like the idea of self-commitment. Well said.

@DreamTouch

I love the response Dream! I espically love the note of self commitment. I think it realtes to Cups incredibly well!

@DreamTouch

I loved your answers, Dream! Especially the first one- I liked the way you defined service leadership! :)

@Heather225

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?

"Service leadership" is a concept I haven't heard of before, but it makes sense as I think I've been involved in this in the past. You are offering leadership for the sheer pleasure of doing so, not to receive a certain title or to take on more. I've seen leadership through the group chat moderators, and through peer and chat supporters. I've seen leadership through listeners who just care and want to help other listeners by providing feedback and empathy.

I can become a better "servant" by continuing to learn, to ask questions, and to share what I've experienced to other listeners, and to members who come for support. But to also look after myself and be respectful of what I can and can't handle.

@Skyglider

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Service Leadership. I agree that it's important to keep learning and asking questions, there's always something we can improve =)

You have some really great answers! Yes always so important to ask questions and share knowledge with others. 7 cups is a never ending learning journey! All the best!@Skyglider

@Skyglider

Hey it's great to know that you have such a solid plan to learn, ask questions, and share your experiences with others.

What do you think of the idea of service leadership?

I think the idea of service leadership is great as it keeps leaders focussed on how they can best serve the community. It is also motivating as they are constantly seeing the "why" for what they are doing, i.e. the people who come here seeking support.

Can you list one example of service leadership you have seen on 7 Cups?

I often see it in people running discussions in the group support rooms. They are leading the discussions, but everything they ask and say is carefully considered so that it is helpful to the participants and lets the participants get involved in what's going on.

How can you become a better "servant' to our community?

I need to keep focussed on my reasons for doing the activities I do on the site. I am here to support people, and I need to make sure that my actions reflect that.

@Gozzil To constantly remind yourself of the reason you are doing something on this website is so important! That's a great way to refresh yourself before you get into giving to the community. Thanks for sharing these answers ~

@Gozzil

Those are some great answers, Gozzil! I loved the way you defined service leadership! :)

1. What do you think of the idea of service leadership?

A good leader knows how to serve. Service leadership is a great way to see how influential a leader can be with their own team. This can improve the team in so many ways.

2. Can you list one example of service leadership you have seen on 7 Cups?

Ah, so many. Listener Coaching Team, Internship Team - both these teams work tirelessly to support each other as well as everyone participating in the programs.

3. How can you become a better "servant' to our community?

I can become a better servant by communicating well and being patient. With these qualities, I want to be able to help others grow as well as grow for myself.

@anotherfrenchtoastmafiaa

Yes I love the bit you added about personal growth reminds us we are growing ourselves while helping others 🙂

@anotherfrenchtoastmafiaa

Hi toast That's a very nice goal to have; being patient and communicating well. I strive to always be a person others can come to, and to be patient with myself and others. Cheers!

@Heather225

Service leadership is a type of leadership where power is shared and the needs of others come first to develop more. For example, someone who loves posting on forums becoming a forum supporter. I could be a better servant by improving myself as a listener through trainings and practicing self care more often

I have always felt that “service leadership” best describes my ideal vision of leadership. I believe that it is the absolute most valuable way for an individual to contribute to their community. An example of service leadership that I have seen here on 7Cups is that of the mentor listener system. I deeply appreciate that experienced listeners volunteer their time and energy in order to elevate other listeners, to help them grow and flourish. I think that a key distinction between “traditional leadership” and “service leadership” is that servant leaders seek to elevate new leaders, whilst traditional leaders might instead try to impede the way to leadership for young members of their group. I love that on 7Cups, we are encouraged and guided towards leadership.

I can become a better servant to our community by dedicating myself to a daily routine—to completing a certain number of tasks or spending a certain amount of time offering my love, time, and energy to the members of this community, no matter what those contributions look like (member chats, safety patrol, interacting in forums or chatrooms).

@Dinohorus

I agree with the fact that it is the most valuable contribution you could make to the community.

Good job answering the question!