Servant Leadership: What Is It?

A person who practices servant leadership engages with people in a way that prioritizes authority above power, whether they are managing others or working alongside other employees. A decentralized organizational structure is embodied in the system.

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Employees that interact with clients on a daily basis may improve their relationships and perceptions by practicing servant leadership. Because of their intimate knowledge of the customer, these staff members are better able to maintain current clients and win over new ones.

The Operation of Servant Leadership

The goal of servant leadership is to shift the dynamic between management and staff from “controlling activities” to one that is more synergistic. Robert Greenleaf, a scholar from the 20th century, came up with the phrase “servant leadership” because he disagreed with traditional leadership approaches that emphasize more authoritarian connections between employers and employees.

In workplaces that value servant leadership, the authority figure makes an effort to uplift staff members, encourage creativity, and ensure the welfare of individuals in their immediate vicinity. The goal of servant leadership is to help others become better leaders as well. To adopt this leadership style, a person must exhibit qualities like empathy, listening, stewardship, and a dedication to the personal development of others.

Assistant Leader Qualities

Based on Greenleaf’s findings, a servant leader views circumstances and organizations from a servant’s viewpoint, offering their assistance to meet the needs of both the company and people. The primary goal of servant leaders is to satisfy the needs and desires of their stakeholders; leadership should come second. This is in contrast to the leader-first viewpoint, which is characterized by a person’s desire and possibilities for money gain or influence, together with a speedy goal of gaining control.

The team’s development and mentorship, or the demands of the clients and consumers, come before personal advancement. A servant leader usually pushes their followers to put serving others above their own interests, even when they have reached a position of authority. A servant leader may seek to promote others’ development and progress while distributing authority among them. This quality might include paying close attention to what followers are saying in order to better understand their needs, but it can also include leaders holding each other and themselves responsible for their words and deeds.

Model of Servant Leadership

The servant leader prioritizes how their contribution helps others, as opposed to the leader-first dynamic, which is focused on satisfying a personal need for power. A servant leader, for instance, would first consider how their actions benefit the underprivileged or marginalized before aiming to assume a position of authority. Their dedication to serve comes before their advancement to a leadership role.

This is evident in the healthcare industry, for example, when medical professionals strive to help their patients and support their colleagues and peers in delivering that care. In the context of business, this might entail ensuring that the success of all parties involved—employees, clients, and others—through their services.

Pros and Cons of Servant Leadership

Various leadership philosophies each have pros and cons that determine which one is a better fit for a given situation. Servant leaders score better on a leadership style grid when it comes to their care for others.

A few benefits of servant leadership include: leaders gain the respect of their staff; staff members feel appreciated and that management is considering their needs; a common vision exists; leaders and staff members frequently have higher levels of trust; staff members’ opinions are taken into consideration by leaders, which is likely to enhance innovative efforts; and individuals can grow professionally in a nurturing environment.

Few leaders have experience with servant leadership; implementing this style of leadership may need challenging cultural shifts; decisions may take time, which can be problematic during emergencies; or employees may be assigned more responsibilities than they can handle are some of the drawbacks of servant leadership.

The Benefits of Servant Leadership

Respect is earned by leaders from others.

Frequently, there is increased trust and a common vision.

Employee input influences business decisions for improved results.

People grow in a nurturing atmosphere.

The Drawbacks of Servant Leadership

This kind of leadership is unfamiliar to most leaders.

Adopting this leadership style might necessitate challenging cultural shifts.

This kind of leadership isn’t good for making decisions quickly.

Employees may be assigned tasks that are beyond their scope of expertise.

What Is The Theory of Servant Leadership?

The researcher Robert Greenleaf is credited with developing the notion of servant leadership in the 20th century. According to Greenleaf, the team’s leader should prioritize its members’ development into independent, free-thinking individuals. becoming a servant leader means having a mindset that prioritizes serving others over becoming a leader. A leader-first mindset, according to Greenleaf, is “often large, complex, powerful, impersonal; not always competent; sometimes corrupt.”

What Constitutes Servant Leadership’s Core Values?

Ten principles of servant leadership were proposed by Greenleaf: stewardship, dedication to people’s progress, listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, and community building.

What Does a Servant Leader Do?

Serving as a group’s steward of resources and looking out for the interests of team members and the group as a whole are the duties of a servant leader. Others are encouraged to take the initiative and participate in decision-making by servant leaders. They also promote a feeling of solidarity and community.

Who Makes a Good Servant Leader Example?

In the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Martin Luther King took the lead and opted to support a nonviolent strategy. He put up a valiant fight for social justice and eventually gave his life in order to save others—not for recognition or financial benefit. By doing this, Dr. King set an example of servant leadership for all future leaders.

The Final Word

Every leadership style has advantages and disadvantages, and certain situations call for different approaches. For instance, authoritarian leadership is essential in a military context when exactitude and rigid standards are required. Servant leadership works well in less organized settings, including research settings where teams collaborate to develop.