DL2022 Cheri Flewell-Smith - SEVA Leadership: A Decolonised Perspective

Traditional leadership styles are centred on Eurocentric concepts of authority figures influencing and guiding through the organisation to achieve their ends. SEVA leadership challenges this concept to create a new paradigm that integrates concepts of communal wellbeing, equality, and inclusiveness through service. Based on the Sikh concept of ‘Seva’ or ‘Sewa’,, there are three facets to SEVA Leadership: tan, man and dhan—physical, emotional and material service. ‘The SEVA Wheel’ is a simple, easy to apply design framework that offers a new perspective on how to embrace transformative, holistic, leadership for individuals, communities, and organisations to prosper.

Transcript

1. Cheri Flewell-Smith
   SEVA
   LEADERSHIP
   A decolonised perspective
   

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2. I'm Cheri,
   a proud Sikh woman,
   Advertising Creative
   and Lecturer at
   Torrens University
   How I embody SEVA in my
   everyday practice
   About Me
   

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3. Reconnected me with
   cultural values
   Physical / Emotional /
   Material needs met
   But first,
   a story about
   peas
   01
   02
   03
   Started to see the value in
   giving (more to come)
   

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4. Selfless Service
   What is SEVA?
   

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5. SEVA
   Leadership
   SEVA is based on the values of Sikhism
   A focus on service with, not for.
   

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6. Generosity:
   Time and
   energy
   SEVA
   Leadership
   SEVA is based on the values of Sikhism
   A focus on service with, not for.
   

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7. Generosity:
   Time and
   energy
   Community:
   At the heart of
   everything
   SEVA
   Leadership
   SEVA is based on the values of Sikhism
   A focus on service with, not for.
   

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8. Generosity:
   Time and
   energy
   Courage:
   Do the right
   thing
   Community:
   At the heart of
   everything
   SEVA
   Leadership
   SEVA is based on the values of Sikhism
   A focus on service with, not for.
   

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9. Generosity:
   Time and
   energy
   Courage:
   Do the right
   thing
   Community:
   At the heart of
   everything
   Humility:
   Without ego
   SEVA
   Leadership
   SEVA is based on the values of Sikhism
   A focus on service with, not for.
   

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10. Generosity:
    Time and
    energy
    Courage:
    Do the right
    thing
    Community:
    At the heart of
    everything
    Humility:
    Without ego
    Equality:
    No
    hierarchies
    SEVA
    Leadership
    SEVA is based on the values of Sikhism
    A focus on service with, not for.
    

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11. Back to the
    peas for a
    second... Consider how being apart
    of the process can be a
    conduit to individual
    wellbeing but also
    organisational wellbeing.
    Changing from the
    'Look for the helpers' to
    being a helper.
    

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12. When
    employees
    prosper...
    Happiness and job performance go
    hand in hand. People who are happy
    with their jobs are more likely to
    contribute to the organization, and as a
    result are more likely to be physically
    and mentally healthy (Celestine, 2017).
    

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13. The
    SEVA
    Wheel
    The three types of SEVA
    Tan: Physical
    Man: Emotional/ Mental
    Dhan: Material
    YOU
    Emotional
    +
    Mental
    Physical
    Courage
    Generosity
    Humility Equality
    Community
    Material
    

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14. The
    SEVA
    Wheel
    The three types of SEVA
    Tan: Physical
    Man: Emotional/ Mental
    Dhan: Material
    YOU
    Emotional
    +
    Mental
    Physical
    Courage
    Generosity
    Humility Equality
    Community
    Material
    

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15. A new lens to encourage more reflection
    Design thinking:
    a way to understanding
    

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16. HMW Questions
    Pre-record your Canva
    presentation to present
    anytime, anywhere.
    How might we support
    spiritual and emotional,
    mental wellbeing?
    How might we offer access
    to resources/ opportunities/
    ensure equality?
    Physical
    Emotional /
    Mental
    Material
    01
    02
    03
    

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17. There's room for more than one approach.
    Cherry pick what works for you.
    A new
    and diverse
    lens
    From peas to perspective
    

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18. Interested to hear more? Email me at
    cflewell-smith@torrens.edu.au
    Thank you!
    

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19. References
    Celestine, N. (2017, January 26). The Science of Happiness in Positive Psychology 101.
    PositivePsychology.com. https://positivepsychology.com/happiness/
    

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