What is a Servant Leadership?

In a servant leadership style, the leader focuses on the growth and empowerment of their employees. They develop a collaborative, inclusive environment, in which all employees feel valued and connected to the organizational goal.

According to Greenleaf “A servant-leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. While traditional leadership generally involves the accumulation and exercise of power by one at the “top of the pyramid,” servant leadership is different. The servant-leader shares power puts the needs of others first, and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible.”

The traditional leadership style focuses more on the organizational goal, while the servant leadership style involves the employee in achieving the organizational goal. Servant leadership ensures that employees are always engaged, grow their careers, and learn new skills.

Servant leadership motivates employees. They feel a part of the organization and give their best to help it achieve its goals. This leadership style builds trust and develops a highly cohesive team and collaborative work culture. It creates a forgiving and understandable culture where everyone forgives others’ mistakes, understands their problems, and helps them do a better job.

Leaders connect emotionally and on a personal level with their employees. This improves the emotional health of the employees, and they feel a stronger bond with their organization. They will be more confident and can share their concern with their bosses and coworkers. Since they are being welcomed, they would do the same for the new employees.

According to the Catalyst survey, 61% of workers who experience empathy from their leaders say they are more innovative, and 76% say they’re more engaged. 

Servant leaders create an environment where everyone feels welcomed, respected, and valued.

Servant as the Leader

“Servant as the Leader,” an essay by Robert K. Greenleaf, presents the concept of servant leadership, where the primary role of a leader is to serve their followers. This essay was published in the 1970s (available here), and the term servant leader has been popularized.

According to Greenleaf, true leadership emerges from a commitment to serving the needs of others, instead of a desire to achieve organizational goals, power, or recognition. He emphasizes empathy, listening, and understanding as essential for effective leadership. Servant leaders prioritize the growth and well-being of their team members and promote a culture of trust, collaboration, and empowerment. 

They lead by example, demonstrating humility and putting their employees’ interests above their own. By serving their followers, leaders can improve engagement, loyalty, and productivity to achieve success. 

The essay encourages a shift in perspective from traditional leadership models to one focused on serving others, believing that this approach can lead to positive transformation in individuals and institutions.

THE INSTITUTION AS SERVANT: In his second essay, Robert discusses the institution as a servant. Robert Greenleaf recognized that organizations, as well as individuals, could be servant-leaders. Indeed, he had great faith that servant-leader organizations could change the world.

Key Characteristics of Servant Leadership

The following are the key characteristics of a servant leader:

• Empathy: A servant leader prioritizes understanding and empathizing with their employees’ needs, feelings, and views. They put employees before their goals and show care and concern for them.
• Integrity: A servant leader maintains high integrity and behaves ethically and fairly. They display humility towards their employees.
• Listening: They actively listen to their employees, value their opinions and feedback, and make decisions collaboratively based on a common understanding.
• Healing: Servant leaders support their followers’ personal and professional development and develop a culture of growth, well-being, and trust.
• Persuasion: Instead of relying on authority, servant leaders persuade and inspire employees to achieve common goals through collaboration and consensus-building.
• Commitment to Growth: Servant leaders are committed to their employees’ growth and development. They provide opportunities for learning, mentorship, and advancement.
• Building Community: Servant leaders promote building a community and a sense of belonging within their organization. They support collaboration, inclusivity, and teamwork.

Examples of Servant Leadership

The following are a few examples of servant leadership:

• Nelson Mandela: Mandela followed servant leadership during his presidency in South Africa by focusing on reconciliation and unity, rather than revenge after the end of Apartheid. He prioritized the people’s needs over his own and peacefully transformed the system into a democracy.
• Abraham Lincoln: Lincoln’s leadership during the American Civil War showcased servant-leadership principles. He prioritized the well-being of the nation and its people above personal gain, working tirelessly to preserve the Union and abolish slavery.
• Anne Mulcahy (Former CEO of Xerox): Mulcahy is an excellent example of servant leadership for her approach to leading Xerox through a crisis. She focused on listening to employees, customers, and stakeholders, thus emphasizing transparency and collaboration to turn the company around.
• Kat Cole (Former CEO of Cinnabon): Cole is known for her hands-on leadership style and focus on serving employees and customers. She prioritized building relationships and empowering her team, thus leading to Cinnabon’s significant growth and success.

Servant Leadership Vs Traditional Leadership

Servant leaders differ from traditional leaders. In traditional leadership, leaders are at the center. They offer the vision, and their followers follow their leader to achieve the goal. On the other hand, servant leaders put the needs of their followers first. They invest in their followers so they can be motivated and confident, and then they perform better and collectively achieve the goal.

Traditional leadership uses a top-down approach, where direction flows from the leader to the team. In contrast, servant leadership promotes collaboration and participatory decision-making. Servant leaders engage their team members in discussions, encourage diverse viewpoints, and involve them in planning strategies. This inclusive approach creates a sense of ownership and commitment among team members, leading to greater motivation and innovation.

Traditional leadership focuses on short-term results and employee achievements, servant leadership emphasizes long-term sustainability and collective success. Servant leaders invest in the growth and development of their team members, creating a culture of continuous learning and improvement. By prioritizing the well-being and professional development of their followers, servant leaders build strong, cohesive teams capable of overcoming challenges and achieving success.

Pros and Cons of Servant Leadership

Pros

• It develops a strong, cohesive team.
• It helps grow employees.
• It increases employee motivation.
• It creates a culture of ownership and responsibility.
• It creates a culture of trust and collaboration.
• It encourages employee development and empowerment.
• It enhances employee satisfaction and morale.
• It promotes teamwork and a sense of community.
• It leads to higher productivity and innovation.

Cons

• It is time-consuming and requires effort and patience.
• The leader may lose authoritative power.
• It leads to slower decision-making.
• This may lead to ambiguous decision-making.
• It requires strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• It could result in conflicts if not implemented effectively.
• This might be perceived as a weakness in traditional hierarchical structures.

Summary

Servant leadership is an effective leadership style. By prioritizing their employees’ growth and well-being, servant leaders create environments of trust, collaboration, and innovation. They motivate employees to achieve collective success while nurturing individual potential. Organizations are increasingly recognizing the value of servant leadership, and adapting this model can create a culture of empowerment and excellence, thus driving sustainable long-term success.