The Essence of Servant Leadership

Robert Greenleaf wasn’t a dynamic conference speaker on leadership, a management guru, or a bestselling author on workplace motivation.

He was an AT&T senior executive. In the 1970s, Greenleaf seriously rocked the corporate world with this shocking maxim: “The great leader is seen as a servant first, and that simple fact is the key to greatness.”

Someone wiser and greater than Greenleaf said it first. Jesus told His disciples, “Whoever wants to become great among you, must be your servant; and whoever wants to be first must be a slave to all.” Then He defined His mission “. . . not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:43-45). Serving and giving. . .the marks of greatness.

We hear much about servant leadership today., , but what is it? What is the heartbeat of a servant leader who serves and gives? How do servant leaders stand out from other leaders? A few thoughts:

1.    Servant leadership is about character.

            Servant leadership isn’t about methods, techniques, and skills. Those are important, but not the primary focus. Servant leadership is an inside job. It’s character based, which in turn, is vital to leadership competency. It’s more about who we are as a leader than what we do as a leader. A leadership skill without character only makes the leader a better rip-off artist to manipulate others.

            Popular leadership writers, Kouzes and Posner, conducted a series of executive seminars at Santa Clara University. Over 2600 top-level managers were asked to complete a checklist of admired leadership characteristics. The number one-character quality looked for in a leader in virtually every survey was HONESTY. Honesty ranked above forward-looking, inspirational, and competent. HONESTY REVEALS CHARACTER.

2.  The servant leader’s paramount aim is always the best interests of those they lead.

            Servant Leaders THINK OTHERS FIRST. The interests of others take priority over the servant leader’s interests. Servant leaders make room for people. In their mind all people are important. In the words of Philippians 2:3, they “consider others more important than themselves.”

            “The leaders we admire do not place themselves at the center; they place others there. They do not seek the attention of people; they give it to others. They do not focus on satisfying their own aims and desires; they look for ways to respond to the needs and interests of their constituents. They are not self-centered; they concentrate on their constituents.” (Kouzes and Posner, Credibility, page 31)

To think others first is not primarily what the leader does—it’s about how they think. It’s what’s in the leader’s heart, not what they do with their hands.

3.  The servant leader’s paramount satisfaction is in the growth and development of those they lead.

            Servant leaders see themselves as “people developers,” not “take charge” heroes. They set direction and lead, but they’re not “bosses,” “control freaks,” “serve me or else.” They help others thrive and flourish, and in doing so people succeed. “How can I help you prosper?” drives the servant leader.

            “The true leader enables his or her followers to realize their full potential. . . the art of leadership lies in polishing and liberating and enabling the gifts of others.” (Max DePree, Leadership Is An Art, Page 10)

4.  Servant leaders desire accountability.

            Accountability is opening up your life to a few carefully selected, trusted, loyal confidants who speak the truth, who question, who have the right to probe, to appraise, and give counsel.

            Servant leaders despise the idea that they’re free to do as they please, that they’re above the rules; that they can do what others can’t do. Tiger Woods said in his first interview after his colossal moral failure, “I got away from core values. I felt entitled. I lived a lie.” The man had no accountability. No one looked him in the eye and asked the tough questions. Sadly, he probably didn’t want accountability, and he reaped what he sowed.

Remember, no one is an island, standing alone. We need each other.

Servant Leadership is a shift from self-serving leadership to leadership that serves others motivated by a change of heart. Leaders must get their hearts right to become a servant leader.