Servant Leadership

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Servant leadership is a leadership style and philosophy whereby an individual interacts with others—either in a management or fellow employee capacity—to achieve authority rather than power. The system embodies a decentralized organizational structure. Leaders who follow this style include customer-facing employees in company decision-making. These employees have a close relationship with the consumer and can make better decisions to retain those customers and acquire new ones.

Servant leadership seeks to move management and personnel interaction away from controlling activities and toward a synergistic relationship.

The authority figure in servant leadership environments attempts to promote innovation, empower employees, and assure the well-being of those around them.

Servant leadership also aims to develop leadership qualities in others.

This leadership style requires an individual to demonstrate empathy, listening, stewardship, and commitment to the personal growth of others.

Servant leadership is not suitable for all situations. A military commander must assume complete authority to make swift life-and-death decisions.

 Servant leadership seeks to move management and personnel interaction away from "controlling activities" and toward a more synergistic relationship. The term "servant leadership" was coined by Robert Greenleaf, a twentieth-century researcher who was skeptical about traditional leadership styles that focus on more authoritarian relationships between employers and employees.

 The authority figure in servant leadership environments attempts to promote innovation, empower employees, and assure the well-being of those around them. Servant leadership also aims to develop leadership qualities in others. This leadership style requires an individual to demonstrate characteristics such as empathy, listening, stewardship, and commitment to the personal growth of others. 

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A servant leader approaches situations and organizations from the perspective of a servant first, looking to lend their presence to answer the needs of the organization and others. Servant leaders seek to address stakeholder wants and requirements as their priority, with leadership to be pursued secondarily. This contrasts with the leader-first perspective, wherein a person aims to gain control quickly often driven by the desire and prospects for material gain or influence.

Developing and mentoring the team who follow their instructions, or the clients’ and customers’ needs, take precedence over personal elevation. Even upon attaining a position of governance, a servant leader typically encourages their subordinates to look to serve others as their priority over personal gains. A servant leader may aim to share power with others and encourage the development and growth of others. This trait can extend to listening to followers carefully to better understand their needs, but it also involves leaders holding themselves and others accountable for their words and actions.

Different leadership styles have their own advantages and disadvantages that make them a better model depending on the context.

Some of the advantages of servant leadership are that leaders earn respect from their employees; employees feel valued and that management is looking out for their interests; there is a shared vision; there is often greater trust among employees and leaders; leaders consider the opinions of staff, which is likely to improve innovative efforts; and individuals develop skills and can advance professionally in a supportive environment.

The disadvantages of servant leadership are that few leaders have experience in this type of management; adopting this style of leadership may require difficult cultural change; decisions can take time, which can be detrimental in times of crisis; or staff may be given more responsibility than they are able to carry.

Pros of Servant Leadership

• Leaders earn the respect of others
• There is often a shared vision and greater trust
• Employee opinion contributes to company decision-making for better outcomes
• Individuals advance in a supportive environment