Servant leadership is a philosophy and leadership style where the primary goal of the leader is to serve. Rather than using power to get things done, servant leaders focus on empowering and developing people while nurturing their emotional and personal growth. Some key principles of servant leadership include empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion rather than coercion, and conceptualization.
Two modern leaders who exemplified servant leadership were Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. Through nonviolent civil disobedience and moral persuasion, they fought for equality and justice, putting the needs of the oppressed people first. While facing adversity and violence themselves, they remained committed to resolving conflicts peacefully and bringing people together. Both leaders understood the power of love and compassion to create positive social change.
On a smaller scale, Jim Collins, author of 'Good to Great', studied numerous companies and found that the best leaders were humble servants first. One example was Dave Packard of Hewlett-Packard. From the start, he shared leadership equally with Bill Hewlett and put the needs of employees and quality products above profits or prestige. This servant-minded approach helped HP become one of the most successful companies in the world.
More recently, leaders like Starbucks chairman and CEO Howard Schultz see their role as serving customers and employees. After buying out Starbucks in the 1980s, Schultz invested heavily in worker benefits and training to build a reputation for being one of the best companies to work for. His servant leadership style has been credited for Starbucks' sustainable growth and popular brand image.
While not a typical example, even popes like Francis take on a servant leadership model, choosing humility over lavish ceremonies and focusing on serving the poor and vulnerable. His radical approach aims to reform the Catholic Church by the example he sets each day.
Servant leadership emphasizes empowering and developing people as the primary goal. Whether globally or within an organization, the most impactful leaders put service before self, understanding that their influence stems from nurturing the potential in others, not coercive powers or prestige. This resonant leadership style produces sustainable success and positive social change.