PHILOSOPHY & ORIGIN

While Servant Leadership is a timeless concept, it may also be the most important leadership philosophy that you've never heard of. The Servant Leadership term was first coined by Robert K Greenleaf, in his 1970 essay 'The Servant as a Leader'. In this essay, Greenleaf sets out a number of ideals, values, and philosophies that redefine the role of organizational leadership.

As Greenleaf himself states, Servant Leaders are leaders who put other people’s needs, aspirations, and interests above their own. Servant Leadership philosophy offers a different perspective from traditional authoritarian styles of leadership and instead focuses on sharing of power and control with those the leader is responsible for so that they can reach their full potential. Servant Leadership is for leaders who want to use their position of influence to help others and be of service for the greater good. 

When leaders shift their mindset and serve first, they benefit as well as their employees in that their employees acquire personal growth, while the organization grows as well due to the employees growing commitment and engagement. Servant Leadership isn't the easiest path for leaders to take. It takes time to develop, and a strong commitment by leaders to stay disciplined while consistently embody the Servant Leader philosophy.

The Servant Leadership philosophy continues to impact organizations on an international level, and regardless of the size of the organization or its location- the results of the philosophy on overall organizational success cannot be denied. Some of the most well-known organizations such as Starbucks, Home Depot and WestJet have adopted a Servant Leadership model and have transformed their customer service experience, increased employee engagement, and saw greater performance from this people-first leadership style. 

And the best part of Servant Leadership is the ability for leaders to connect with, build and grow meaningful and authentic relationships with their people in a way that allows them to truly understand them – and build their organization around personal successes.