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!
After fulfilling the requirements of this post, please check out the next post here! You must take part in the brainstorming/activities given in all of these posts to successfully complete the program.
This post is brought to you by the Leadership Development Program Team, find out more information about the program here.
@Heather225
Service leadership is great, I lovee the idea of growing on 7Cups to help more people. Pretty much all roles are to help other people, peer support is here to help listeners with hard chats which I think is a perfect example
@considerateParadise6717
(Last question)
Engage with all of the training and help you get to improve my skills
@Heather225
Not sure if I already answered but here are my answers:
What do you think of the idea of service leadership?
Leadership is important to me because it shows my dedication and support to everyone in my Community.
Can you list one example of service leadership you have seen on 7 Cups?
Team leaders who thrive to make all of 7 cups safe and positive for everyone
How can you become a better "servant' to our community?
By putting others first. Listening to their concerns showing empathy and understand some may find a hardship in their tasks and work on helping them progress on the site.
@pamharley003
I totally agree on everything you said!
@Heather225
I believe that service leadership is an awesome way for all of us to learn from each other, grow personally and be capable of giving others something that'll affect their lives in a positive way.
One of the examples that I remember when I first started being a listener here almost a year ago and started hosting sharing circles for the first time, I was just doing what I was supposed to do without doing anything more or less but leaders in the room were always caring and would take chats with members who would feel like they're having a hard time, they would leave it all and help those members and I was astonished by their inspiring attitude
I would love to become a better servant by being more active and participate more in chat rooms and try my best to help others in any way possible. I think also reading more about mental struggles instead of avoiding to choose members who are struggling with them would make a tremendous difference
@generousBreeze169 Best wishes for you to become more active and participating more. Hope knowledge about mental struggles will serve you well. And being better self as a leader is also important for, agree with this part at most.
@generousBreeze169
So very nice of you to say that you'd like to become a better servant by participating more in groupchats. Beautiful answers. ♥️
I love the idea of service leadership because it puts serving the community as the ultimate goal. Some examples of service leadership include discussion leaders who volunteer their time to host sessions for members of the community and chat supporters who volunteer their time to answer questions in the listener chat rooms.
I could become a better servant by spending more time in taking 1 on 1 chats!
@competentParadise6344 Serving the community as whole is also important thing to ntice for me, thank you for you knowledge.
What do you think of the idea of service leadership?
The idea of service leadership is to serve other and help them. It is different as people are not climbiing a pyramid or pushing others down, it is about growing together as a community and helping others.
Can you list one example of service leadership you have seen on 7 Cups?
My mentor has really helped me a lot in the process to help me clear my questions. I would also like to add all the listeners I have met as they were some of the most suppotive and pateint people.
How can you become a better "servant' to our community?
Becoming a better "servant' will including understanding others, communicating. Taking breaks and practising self care . Understanding your role and taking on the work you can handle.
@wonderfulKermitKaTy I appreciate all listeners I've met here too. Also the part ("Becoming a better "servant' will including understanding others, communicating") is very nice addition I should rememver about.
@wonderfulKermitKaTy awesome answer :D
@wonderfulKermitKaTy great answer!
@wonderfulKermitKaTy
I strongly agree about what you said about "self-care" in order to be a better "servant" at 7 Cups. I also believe that we need to take care of ourselves as leaders to bring a positive influence to our team!
@wonderfulKermitKaTy
@wonderfulKermitKaTy This makes so much sense, and I especially love the bit about being a better 'servant. Taking breaks and self care are super important <3
@wonderfulKermitKaTy Thanks for bringing up self care! It is a really important part of becoming a better listener.
@wonderfulKermitKaTy Great answer.
@wonderfulKermitKaTy Awesome answer ! 
@wonderfulKermitKaTy
That is very true! It's important to build each other up!
@wonderfulKermitKaTy
I love that you pointed out that it's not like "climbing a pyramid or pushing others down, it is about growing together as a community and helping others." You captured that so well. This community is so good with how it supports and how it builds up together. You are spot on.
@wonderfulKermitKaTy
I really like the way you explained your meaning of service leadership!<3
@wonderfulKermitKaTy
Wonderful answers !
What do you think of the idea of service leadership?
It makes a leader to serve others. It is not just "vision of power" but using the power to make others life better. It is about caring about people whom the leader serves as top priority, not people serve the leader.
Can you list one example of service leadership you have seen on 7 Cups?
I saw how a person was answering in check in threads being supportive to others. I saw a mentor who really answers question, even stupid and gives good guidelines. I saw how people host sharing circles and how do their best to support people who is sharing.
How can you become a better "servant' to our community?
I'd write it to myself as guidelines:
Remember, the work matters. Do not push youself over the borders and take care about yourself. Do things you are interesting in and finding fun there, involve and learn there. Ask questions how to help. Look how others doing it.
@windSpirit
Appreciate your beautiful words for the people that are in service leadership on cups ♥️
@windSpirit
I agree! I love the answers, you did a great job
@windSpirit awesome answer
@windSpirit
I agree with you about the role of a mentor. Even though someone may ask questions that may seem "dumb" to ask, a mentor's role is to consisteny provide the best support that they possibly can. Your example is a great example of service leadership!
@windSpirit
Totally agree with what you mentioned about not pushing ourselves over the border! Learning from others is such an excellent tactic and yes, having fun is important otherwise our work will just be monotonous! Best of luck on your journey ✨
@windSpirit Wow I really liked how you brought up service of power!
@windSpirit
I agree! Taking care of yourself is important in being a good leader.
Hey, anyone who is reading - I noticed it's proven with time!
@Heather225
Lovely concept and encouraging words, H , thankyouu ♥️
What do you think of the idea of service leadership?
I think, 7 cups is a great place to see this idea in practicality.
Decoding the term "Service Leadership " , for me it resonates as, serving with a leading role . Which is so very amazing, we all serve here in our own ways, depicting great leadership qualities, compassion and support . We all serve the community, only for something good, without any expectations or personal gains, other than an increased compassion and empathy quotient while serving in this wonderful place .
Can you list one example of service leadership you have seen on 7 Cups?
I believe each one is a great part of the community and all their efforts and time are so very appreciated.
To give an example though, I'd say Mentors are an amazing source of service leadership, these are helping out so many and those so many are further helping more people coming in contact. It's beyond beautiful to see them going above and beyond to support the community and make this a better place for all.
How can you become a better "servant' to our community?
I'd like to say ,I do always try to offer my best self to everyone I come in contact with here, be it in participating in forums and chatroom sessions , helping out , provide encouragement and support in listener and member rooms or by taking up 1:1 chats to support members .
To become better at serving, I however do need to realise my burnout points and slow down at those times, practice self care and get back to everything again, with more cheer and vigour ,because I can't pour in other cups without pouring in mine, so to serve the community better, it's important I take care of my needs and limits tooo .
@Sunisshiningandsoareyou
I also talked about self care in my response as well. I'm glad you also mentioned that in your response as it means that there are more people who think like me. Thank you for your amazing post!
@UnicornsCottonCandy
Thanks so much! Self care is an integral part of our lives, especially on cups as a leader with roles and responsibilities to attend to . I am glad you feel the same. Best wishes for your journey ahead ❤
@Sunisshiningandsoareyou Great answer ! I really learned from it.
@Heather225
What do you think of the idea of service leadership?
I think it's a great leadership idea, service leadership is a good way to improve a community, being a servant, you put the needs of the team before your own, that's a great way in building a community and trust. You also help others to be able to think for themselves, and to try their own thoughts out, by using encouraging phrases, words and questions. Which is what a community needs, people to encourage others to do what they think is best for them, not what we think is best for them.
Can you list one example of service leadership you have seen on 7 Cups?
I think a mentor is a good example of service leadership, they became a mentor to help support other people in any struggles they may have while being a listener. So that shows that they're there and in that role to improve their team.
How can you become a better "servant' to our community?
To become a better servant to our community, I can become more involved and interact more with it. By welcoming people and greeting them , getting to know each other, becoming more of a community team than individuals.
@kieran000
i like your answer to the second question! It reminds me to be grateful for the tremendous volunteering supports I'm getting from others mentors and coach on 7cups.
@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 perceive service leadership as service to the community, for the community. One example of service leadership I have seen on 7 cups is that of the forum supporters and mentors, who invest time and energy to make sure all members and listeners who post feel safe and heard.
How can you become a better "servant' to our community?
By investing more time to participate in forums and being a better listener through Peer Training guides.
@Heather225 I like the idea of servant leadership as they share power and put others first. Real leaders lead by example and lead everyone to success. Leaders shouldn’t abuse their powers or perform with low expectations or warmth.
I have seen this in a lot of leadership teams around 7 Cups, thankfully a lot of leaders practice this and lead incredibly.
I have recently implemented being a better servant leader by sharing the power to my new leaders of LSC (Listener Sharing Circle) and putting others first!