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!
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@FrenchToast
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 service leadership is an amazing and honorable role to play here at 7cups. I ask my mentor many questions and it would've been very difficult for me without the leaders and mentors to do the LDP program. I would also like to try out for a mentor or a listener coach role in the future, it sounds interesting.
@Snowpudding Your perspective on service leadership is so thoughtful, and it’s wonderful to see how much you appreciate the leaders and mentors who’ve supported you! It’s inspiring that you’re considering stepping into a mentor or listener coach role in the future—I’m sure you’d bring so much value to the community. Keep asking questions and learning; you’re already showing the qualities of a great leader! I’m excited to see where your journey on 7 Cups takes you. 😊
Service leadership is a beautiful and empowering concept, especially in a community like 7 Cups. It prioritizes serving others, fostering an environment where collaboration, empathy, and selflessness thrive. This approach ensures that every contribution, no matter how visible or understated, is valued equally, reinforcing the sense of community and mutual respect. By focusing on the well-being of both leaders and members, it creates a healthy balance between giving and receiving support.
One example of service leadership I’ve seen on 7 Cups is when listeners host support sessions for fellow listeners. These sessions provide a safe space for sharing challenges, tips, and encouragement, helping others grow in their roles. It’s a subtle yet impactful way to lead by serving the needs of the community, ensuring that listeners feel heard and supported as they help others.
@JustLikeMellie
Completely agree with this, another great example of service leadership in our community. Thank you for sharing :)
Service leadership is an important part of the community. It wouldn’t be the same without those who offer their services to the community. Mentors and group moderators (I think) are a couple examples.
@EventHorizons
I totally agree with the example of the group mentors! Just that fact that people take time out of their own lives to give to others on these forums is amazing.
@FrenchToast
I think service leadership focuses on empowering and serving others, prioritizing their growth, well-being, and success. It's a leadership approach that emphasizes collaboration, humility, and putting the needs of others first.
Hi @VioletteB82 !
I agree! Service leadership truly prioritizes others' growth. It's inspiring to see this collaborative approach in action. Great insights!
@FrenchToast
I've seen service leadership represented on 7 cups via all the self enrichment courses and paths such as this LDP course.
@VioletteB82
this is a wonderful point, Violette, 7 cups offers so many ways to grow as an individual, listener, and leader and this is a big part of service leadership!
✒️ 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 something to aspire to, leading others through our volunteering work through empowerment, care and guidance. Demonstrating the qualities of leadership in a more collaborative approach, to build closer and more nurturing communities.
On 7Cups this leadership style is demonstrated in a number of different ways, but one example that comes to mind is the moderators and leaders of group chat rooms. The success of these rooms is reliant on people leading by example. Showing kindness to others and listening respectfully, making sure that everyone has their fair chance to speak and sometimes through people guiding the flow of chat to maintain a positive atmosphere.
@KellyBx
I agree Kelly, I think the mods & leaders of the chat rooms are a perfect example of service leadership :) thanks for sharing this perspective! :D
I fully agree. Moderators are truly helpful in steering discussions away from unnecessary tangents.
@FrenchToast
✒️ 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 appreciate the notion of service leadership because I see community as a circle, not a pyramid. I am not too keen on hierarchies and I think that service leadership helps to reinforce that each member of the community is integral to success. My leadership style leans heavily on supporting the individuals I lead, not bossing them around. I think that my personal leadership philosophy matches well with the idea of service leadership. One example of service leadership I have seen on 7 cups is how admin staff make themselves available to support all volunteers on 7 cups- not just more senior or well known volunteers.
@FrenchToast
I think service leadership is a wonderful way to consider leadership. Often leaders are expected to serve their people, but few fulfill this expectation. Within the 7cups platform, I have seen several listeners go out of their way to uplift troubled members that leave heartwarming stories on community posts not just by engaging with them, but offering to listen/respond to them when available.
@FrenchToast
✒️ 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?
The idea of service leadership allows leaders to serve and help others whenever they need assistance with something. One example of service leadership that I've seen on 7 Cups is how the chatroom supporters are willing to answer questions regrading anything which allows for others to be seen and heard.
@charmingPeace6655 I fully agree with you! 100%! The chatroom supporters are fantastic at making you feel heard and seen, especially when you may feel unsure or uncertain about a situation. :)
@FrenchToast
✒️ 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 t is a good idea. An example can be that sometimes we listeners receive a text "self-care is also important" when we are helping members so it is the time and effort listeners give to so many member chats at one time.
✒️ Please reply to at least 1 of your peers in this thread with encouraging or supportive words!
Kindlemissie is very supportive buddy! (: