Robert K. Greenleaf showed the way of a servant as a leader. A servant leader is as good as other types of business leaders. So, what’s different about them?  

Servant leadership comes from the basic instinct to serve. Then, the concerned develops a leadership spree to better serve the organisation’s interests.   

Greenleaf’s book on servant leadership, written in 1977, is still relevant today. However, servant leaders are now more relevant than ever.   

First, servant leaders are internally recruited. In the same vein, a Forbes report found that 49.5% of US employers want to promote internal talent in leadership positions.   

Main Principles Mirrored in Modern Management Theories

 Chronologically, modern principles of servant leadership came to exist. Their amalgamated views shape the servant leader of modern workplaces.   

While defining what is servant leadership, Larry Spears observed that servant leaders should be impactful.   

In the same vein, Joe Iarocci talks about three more key principles. These are:  

• Serving the interests of the organisations with the highest priority  

• Being persuasive and goal-oriented  

• Empowering team members to improve group performance   

Eventually, all modern principles are aligned with Greenleaf’s basic proposition of what a servant leader is.   

Characteristics of a Servant Leader

Servant leaders think about the organisation and its goals more than anyone. That’s the ideal image of servitude leadership.   

But that’s not their only quality. Let’s see how servant leaders are honed.   

1. Focus on serving others first

Servant leadership is based on the principle of selfless service. In this regard, servant leaders must exhibit altruistic qualities. Again, the same attributes make them aware of the emotional and qualitative needs and gaps of others in the team/organisation.   

Greenleaf said that the primary ideal for a servant leader would be “I am the leader because I serve.”   

2. Prioritising the needs of others

The passion to serve is not the only thing that servant leaders have. They have a clear vision of how to serve.   

Meanwhile, they are indeed less oriented to personal development goals. The organisation’s growth with the people in it is its prime goal.   

However, skilled servant leadership always brings a priority order to serve the interest of an organisation. As per modern business needs, the order should be:  

• Having a clear vision to help the people in the organisation improve their skills   

• Showing active involvement and empathy to keep an integrated team  

• Modelling the best ways to improve team performance   

• Appreciating and empowering the team to build upon their cognitive strengths.   

3. Helping others grow and become autonomous

Servant leaders were once part of the team that they now lead. So, they must have a strong awareness of the skills and limitations of the team members.   

The strong association helps servant leaders in many ways. They can use the knowledge to empower the team members individually. Maybe work with them hands-on to overcome their limitations.   

4. Creating a virtuous circle of service

Servant leadership, meaning endless servitude, also places high value on preaching the virtue of service.   

Most likely, the team under them would be equally loyal to the organisation.   

5. Inspiring others towards a common goal  

If your team has a common goal, the integration and observance within the team would be something else. That’s why teams with servant leaders can stringently work on a common goal.   

6. Not seeking power, authority, money, or fame  

 How can you define servant leadership easily?  

Servant leaders don’t seek personal growth in a company.   

Let’s talk about Fred Smith, the FedEx CEO. He never patronised wealth, authority, or self-achievements. He instead wanted the employees to feel satisfied. He also leveraged resources to empower employees.   

His leadership philosophy was People-Service-Profit.   

Today, the success touchpoints of FedEx speak volumes in favour of this servant leadership strategy.  

Qualities of a Servant Leader

Selflessness and peer support do not define servant leadership completely. There’s more to it. Here, we will see how servant leaders help an organisation to thrive.   

1. Humility and self-awareness

Servant leaders have strong self-awareness. That’s why they are most empathetic towards others.   

Let’s take Marriott‘s example here. Their executives are humble and take care of the personal needs of their associates.   

Consequently, the associates take care of Marriott’s heritage and service efficiency.   

2. Continuous learning and critical thinking

According to LinkedIn, servant leaders are highly aware of their team. They have a clear and concise knowledge of the team’s abilities.   

That’s why they can sync the team’s goals with the company’s objectives.   

3. Having a clear vision and overarching purpose

Servant leadership is selfless. Rather, servant leaders are driven by the individual development needs of their teams.   

Consequently, they also have a clear vision of the team and its current and future dynamics.   

Moreover, servant leaders are also purpose-driven. Their main goal is to achieve the company’s business objectives, but all successful servant leaders have to develop comprehensive tactics to achieve those objectives.   

Since they understand the strengths and limitations of the company better, they are more entrusted to develop a suitable business strategy.   

4. Listening and understanding  

What is servant leadership?  

The ability to detect the minutest strengths and limitations of the team. And making a decisive growth strategy, capitalising on the strengths and covering the gaps.  

They need strong communication and emotional connection with the team to do so.   

Experts say that active listening is the best technique to learn about the emotional needs of the team members.   

Out of all types of leaders, servant leaders are most adept at active listening.   

5. Foresight and adaptability  

Servant leaders keep the interests of the organisation in front. So, they also cautiously study the factors that may impact the organisation.   

This foresight is essential to their vision for the organisation’s growth and expansion.   

Achieving Success as a Servant Leader

A Servant leader succeeds through the growth and solidarity of their organisation. They have no separate self-growth goals.   

1. Having a dream and vision

Since servant leaders pursue everything that affects their company, they have a unique vision.   

Primarily, their vision breeds unique strategies that servant leaders follow in successful companies.   

2. Assertive behaviour and discipline

Servant leaders mostly enjoy high stewardship and have high moral standards. That’s why followers comply with the assertive guidance of servant leaders.   

3. Leading with a clear purpose

Most successful servant leaders were purpose-driven. You can make a long list of them. Whether it’s Paul Polman from Unilever or Howard Schultz of Starbucks, a clear purpose is apparent in their leadership.   

Under Polman, Unilever became a canopy of FMCG brands. His leadership style and decisions were supported by the rest of his company.   

4. Encouraging collaboration, trust, and empowerment

Servant leaders prefer working with a hands-on approach. That’s why they collaborate well with their team.   

It also explains why people trust them. Above all, they aim to create a team of highly empowered individuals.   

5. Creating long-lasting change

Servant leaders have remarkable systems-thinking skills. That’s why they can navigate the changing needs of an organisation. In the face of complex market factors, servant leaders have a stand-out plan to endure and grow.   

6. Extending servant leadership beyond business

What are servant leaders, according to you?  

Most leaders will say they are selfless and goal-oriented. But servant leadership is a typology. It is no worked-out leadership tactic. Contrarily, it is a cult motive. Therefore, only a few become servant leaders.   

We find them in politics, society and other spheres of life beyond business, too.   

Conclusion

Often, servant leadership is perceived as a form of transformative leadership. A clear vision and awareness of others’ strengths and weaknesses help them manage changes in the company seamlessly. That’s why servant leaders are praised as good transformative leaders.  

As servant leaders have the organisation’s business interests as the top priority, they are also selfless and amicable.   

Their actions are not only ethical. Servant leaders also cultivate new and positive organisational changes.   

Here, we built the ideology of transformational leadership around Greenleaf’s principles.   

The perspective and ideologies of servant leaders, as Greenleaf said, work invariably across many successful companies.

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