When considering various leadership models to emulate, leaders have a wide variety to choose from, including participative leadership, charismatic leadership, directive leadership, authoritarian leadership, and paternalistic leadership. In this article, we take a closer look at servant leadership theory, an aspirational but somewhat understudied model of leadership rooted in lofty goals.
What Is Servant Leadership Theory?
In an influential 1977 article, “Essentials of Servant Leadership,” Robert Greenleaf, an AT&T executive and management researcher, proposed a leadership style in which leaders put the needs, aspirations, and interests of their followers above their own. These leaders seek to help their followers “grow healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, and more likely themselves to become servants,” Greenleaf wrote.
If the primary goal of traditional leadership is to further the organization’s goals, the purpose of servant leadership is to “serve others to be what they are capable of becoming,” write Sen Sendjaya and James C. Sarros of Monash University in Australia in a 2002 article. In this view, organizational success is not ignored—but it is pursued indirectly, through the development and well-being of people.
Greenleaf developed servant leadership theory after reading the novel Journey to the East by Hermann Hesse, which describes a group of men on a mythical journey whose servant, Leo, “sustains them with spirit and song.” When Leo disappears, the group falls apart. Later, Leo is revealed to be a “great and noble leader” who only posed as a servant—an insight that profoundly shaped Greenleaf’s thinking about leadership and influence.
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The roots of servant leadership extend far beyond modern management theory. More than 2,000 years ago, ancient monarchs also practiced forms of servant leadership, “acknowledging they were in the service of their country and their people,” though their actions often fell short of these ideals, write Sendjaya and Sarros. The authors also cite the biblical story of Jesus Christ washing his disciples’ feet as a concrete and enduring illustration of servant leadership in action.
In contemporary organizations, a servant leadership style contrasts sharply with the traditional image of leaders issuing top-down directives. Herb Kelleher, co-founder of Southwest Airlines and its CEO from 1981 to 2009, is frequently cited as a successful servant leader. Under his leadership, Southwest became known for its fun-loving, employee-centered culture and long-term employee loyalty.
“I have always believed that the best leader is the best server,” Kelleher once said. “And if you’re a servant, by definition, you’re not controlling. We try to value each person individually and to be cognizant of them as human beings—not just people who work for our company.”
10 Servant Leadership Characteristics
“Servant leadership seeks to involve others in decision making, is strongly based in ethical and caring behavior, and enhances the growth of workers while improving the caring and quality of organizational life,” writes Larry C. Spears in a 1992 article.
- Listening—A commitment to listening intently to others, paired with reflection and thoughtful response.
- Empathy—An effort to understand, empathize with, and accept others for who they are.
- Healing—A focus on helping others overcome emotional wounds and move toward wholeness.
- Awareness—Both general awareness and self-awareness, contributing to insight into power, ethics, and values.
- Persuasion—in contrast to authoritarian leadership, a reliance on influence and reason rather than coercion or manipulation.
- Conceptualization—The ability to think beyond day-to-day realities and imagine broader possibilities.
- Foresight—Efforts to “understand lessons from the past, the realities of the present, and the likely consequence of a decision for the future.”
- Stewardship—Acting with the understanding that leadership is a trust held for the greater good of society.
- Commitment to the growth of people—The belief that people have intrinsic value beyond their measurable contributions as workers.
- Building community—A desire to foster genuine community within organizations and institutions.
Together, these characteristics paint a picture of leadership grounded in humility, ethical responsibility, and long-term human development.
Criticisms of Servant Leadership Theory
Servant leadership theory has faced criticisms over the years. Feminist scholars, including Pennsylvania State University professor emeritus Deborah Eicher-Catt, have noted that servant leadership theory is based on patriarchal approaches to leadership. And in a 2012 article, Brenda L.H. Marina and Debora Y. Fonteneau point out that servant leadership discourse has ignored the long history of Black servants being subjugated and mistreated. Indeed, the term servant leadership can seem insensitive when applied to women, people of color, and others who historically have faced marginalization and mistreatment in the workplace and society more broadly.
Moreover, few empirical studies have been conducted to test the propositions of servant leadership theory and validate its effectiveness. And as researchers Jan G. Langhof and Stefan Gueldenberg of the Universitat Liechtenstein write in a 2021 article, servant leadership theory may not always promote ethical behavior, as it relies on the moral framework of individual leaders and followers rather than on broadly agreed-upon moral standards.
Despite these shortcomings, servant leadership theory continues to offer ideas that many leaders find worth emulating. Its emphasis on employee growth, open communication, ethical reflection, and community-building remains especially relevant in organizations seeking to balance performance with humanity.
To what extent do you think servant leadership theory can benefit or hinder organizations?
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Servant leadership theory offers a refreshing perspective by placing people’s growth and well-being at the center of leadership. Its focus on empathy, listening, and ethical responsibility can help build strong, loyal, and motivated teams. While it may not fit every situation and needs more empirical support, its human-centered approach remains highly relevant in modern organizations that value culture as much as performance.
This is a thoughtful overview of servant leadership theory and its foundations in Robert Greenleaf’s work. I appreciate how it balances the inspirational aspects—like empathy, stewardship, and growth—with valid critiques about its limitations and cultural implications. The example of Herb Kelleher shows how the philosophy can translate into real organizational impact. Overall, it presents servant leadership as an aspirational yet nuanced model that encourages leaders to prioritize people without ignoring performance.
This is a thoughtful and well-structured overview of servant leadership theory, especially in how it connects Robert K. Greenleaf’s original ideas to both historical and modern examples like Herb Kelleher. I appreciate that the article not only highlights the 10 core characteristics but also addresses important criticisms, including cultural and historical concerns around the term “servant.” By balancing inspiration with critical analysis, it presents servant leadership as both aspirational and complex—making it a strong foundation for deeper discussion about ethical and people-centered leadership.
Really enjoyed this article—it makes servant leadership feel more than just an ideal, but something we can actually aspire to in real organizational settings. Highlighting Greenleaf’s original framing and how it contrasts with traditional top-down leadership helps me see why this model matters.
Insightful piece! Servant leadership isn’t about wielding power, it’s about empowering others. How often do you ask: “Am I serving first or leading first?” And when did you last truly listen or invest in someone’s growth before making a decision? This reframes leadership power, thank you!
Thanks alot for your insighful discourse on servant leadership
Yes, Responsible Leadership seems appropriate. Mandela was the first, relying on tribal wisdom. “Come forward, I am behind you”…By taking the posture of the guide, positioned behind, he reassures, leaves the field open to autonomy, experimentation, he lets people decide… He intervenes to support, to discern, but not, to do in place of the other. This seems to meet the expectations of new generations, who do not need “knowledge, an expert, but a guide to help them solve problems to move forward.
I do not know to what extent my leadership in my past and current project could have been defined as being “servant”.
Anyway, caring about your team need to proceed with the job is too often overlooked by a more promoted myopic goal-centered vision. A hollywood-films promoted goal-centered-authocratic-successful leadership simply does not work in business (based on my own option and experience)
Caring about people as “human” with families is also the key to success.
In short, a leader must be capable to do both: strategic vision and management, as well as to ensure the team be set in conditions to work well.
People, in my domain of course, do love being part of the big goal and are willing to spend efforts to walk the extra mile
There is a sacraficial aspect to Servant-Leadership that people are, quite frankly, uncomfortable with and as such deem it to be “an obsequious disingenuous approach”. I could not disagree more. As a matter of fact, there is nothing more genuine than an individual willing to meet the highest needs of the other which is a requirement for true Servant-Leadership as per Robert Greenleaf. Servant-Leadership is for those leaders who find true value in others and have a willingness to invest in another human being. I am truly mystified by the feminists et al.(as mentioned in a previous post) who have some type of beef with this selfless form of other-actualization. This is a conceptual framework which is available for the fabulously flawed human beings in a leadership position to use that may just enhance the lives of their employees while also meeting and exceeding the profit margins.
I’ve been using this leadership style as a department chair for the past nine years and it really supports innovation. I too object to the term ‘servant’ and generally refer to it at Team First leadership.
Love “Team First Leadership”
Servant leadership is fundamental in today’s fast pacing and antagonising market if we want to be sustainable healthy human beings. It also serves accepted societal principles. It is a great example of demonstrating our virtues. However, it requires strength, courage and lots of effort with a strong sense of sacrification. Individuals with well developed emotional intelligence may find this style of leadership more suitable to be adapted.
I believe the detractors of servant leadership maybe viewing a miss applied approach. A true servant leaders is certainly selfless but this extends to making unpopular decisions that, while negative in the moment, are for the long term success of the collective task first, and welfare of the individual second. A servant leader is a hand rail to be used, not rug to be walked on.
In my opinion this is one of the best ways of managing teams although I see one pitfall which is that there is a change that in serving your team you go one step to far as when people turn to you with a problem you try to solve their problem for them. This is what I see in my practice as a interim manager working in Europe. The will to serve is then too big. It is my view that you should listen to their problems and ask them to think about solutions which then can be discussed and decided on.
I am currently utilizing the servant leadership approach at my factory. I am a relatively new plant manager (was a QA manager prior) and after 1.5 years, the results have been very good on several measurements, especially engagement scores of the workforce. Performance has improved dramatically and the management team under me has developed into a very competent team and are able to deliver results every month.
Ultimately, I think there are a few key factors to success:
– A competent and autonomous management team is a must. My leaders list autonomy as their #1 value and they all very capable and effective within their departments. As a leader, I have learned that this model will struggle if people are not self-motivated in this way. The team members that struggle with this need heavy coaching or need to move on.
– It’s not enough to preach. The living of the idea starts with the leader. I sometimes feel like part psychologist/counselor, which requires a lot active listening to make sure all are heard and feel valued. I am not sure that this is a generational thing but I don’t believe upper management in the corporation that I report to fully understands this concept. People MUST feel heard and feel that their contribution is valued. When they don’t they need to trust that they can open to their leader and talk openly about the issue and then the leader can help them work through the issues without solving the problem for them.
– Vision: This is equally important. So once you have a self-actualized team, they need to have a vision/mission to work to. Not having a strategy and a plan to work to can lead to frustration and conflict. This is true in any scenario but the team that is empowered to make decisions need to have clear context to what is value add vs. non-value add.
Additionally, servant leadership style is not on it’s own a model for how a business should be run. This is a core-values based approach to how you develop a team and grow leaders within an organization but I rely on my experience, problem solving and other management skills to do the job. Ultimately, I realize that there is no amount of solutions that I could deliver in any given situation such that I alone could deliver the results. I am the one who is dependent on my employees, and they are not dependent on me (though they may believe so). So what value do I add but to do the things I stated above?
Personally, I don’t know any effective leader that doesn’t employ some or all of these concepts.
I love the ideas behind servant leadership and I am wondering if it is the title that turns people off. Indeed the first paragraph of the critique you included is all about the name! Servant leadership also smacks of an obsequious disingenuous approach that could promote mistrust.
I prefer the term empowering leadership which seeks to promote the best aspects of those one supervises in collaboration with them. It would require a more work but ti would be an investment in that individual
My online course at MIT is called Facilitative Leadership in the Public Sector. It is free (MIT OpenCourseWare). The courses on leadership at MIT and Harvard all assume a top down model of leadership more appropriate to the private sector and the military. That won’t work in the public sector..I start with servant Leadership model and rework it to include the sills and logic of facilitation from the dispute resolution field. Larry Susskind