Servant leadership: Definition, 10 traits & examples

Servant leadership is a style where leaders put their team members' needs first. In this article, you’ll find out:

• The 10 characteristics of servant leaders

• How servant leadership differs from traditional and transformational styles

• Practical tips for becoming a servant leader

Finding the right leadership style is no easy feat. It has to feel natural to you, be accepted within your organization, and be effective with your team members. To discover the best way to lead your team, try learning the ins and outs of different leadership styles to become the best leader for your team.

Kurt Lewin (authoritarian, democratic, and laissez-faire), Daniel Goleman (emotional leadership theory), and Bernard M. Bass (transformational leadership) are all well-known leadership researchers. Perhaps a lesser-known but nonetheless interesting approach to leadership was developed by Robert K. Greenleaf in the 1970s: servant leadership.

What is servant leadership?

Servant leadership is a philosophy where leaders put the needs, growth, and well-being of their team members before their own. Robert K. Greenleaf developed this idea in 1970. In this approach, leaders serve their employees instead of the other way around.

Robert K. Greenleaf distinguished between two different types of leaders: servant-first and leader-first.

• A leader-first leader will be more likely to focus on being direct and achieving personal and professional goals. Their main focus will be to grow their own career through their team's performance and output.

• A servant-first leader surrenders most of their authority and puts their team first. It's a selfless type of leadership that focuses on the well-being and long-term growth of team members.

The words "leader" and "servant" might seem like opposites, but leaders who help their teams grow, give purpose, and share a clear vision create a welcoming and supportive environment.

Servant leadership vs. traditional and transformational leadership

Knowing how servant leadership is different from other styles can help you pick the best approach for your team.

Many good leaders mix different styles based on the situation. No matter which style you use, your team will benefit from clear communication and regular one-on-one time to build trust.

Origin of servant leadership

The idea of servant leadership came to Robert K. Greenleaf, a retired AT&T executive, after reading Hermann Hesse's novel Journey to the East. The storyline is simple: A group of men sets out on a mythical journey, accompanied by their servant, Leo, who sustains them with his song and spirit. After Leo disappears, the group falls apart, and the journey is abandoned.

Years later, the narrator discovers that Leo was, in fact, the head of the order that sponsored the journey. He wasn't just a servant; he was the guiding spirit, their great leader.

While this story may sound idealistic, Greenleaf saw similarities in the corporate world.

In 1970, he drew inspiration from Hesse's story to write an essay that coined a new style of leadership: "The Servant as Leader." Greenleaf believed: "The servant-leader is servant first [...] Becoming a servant-leader begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first."

In 1964, he founded the Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership to advance the awareness, understanding, and practice of this leadership style by organizations and individuals.

Characteristics of servant leadership

Former president and CEO of the Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, Larry C. Spears, defined the 10 characteristics of effective, caring leaders. They're based on Greenleaf's essays and writings and can help you better understand how to be a servant-first leader.

Spears says you can develop these 10 servant leadership traits with practice and patience. Here’s how to begin.

1. Listening

Servant leaders prioritize active listening. Communication and decision-making skills are important for all good leaders to practice, but a key characteristic of servant leadership is listening to their team and gaining a deep understanding of what they're saying.

Robert K. Greenleaf credited a leader's listening skills as crucial to an innovative work environment.

Example: When a team member comes to you with a problem, listen to them and make them feel heard. This way, they'll always feel comfortable reaching out to you.

2. Empathy

Spears identified empathy as another key characteristic of servant leadership. He writes: "The servant-leader strives to understand and empathize with others. People need to be accepted and recognized for their special and unique spirits."

Example: Assume your team members have good intentions. Keeping an open mind helps encourage creativity and courage at work.

3. Healing

Servant leaders notice when team members have developed habits or faced negative experiences to cope with tough situations.

Greenleaf talked about "understanding the search for wholeness" as something servant leaders and led teams have in common. By prioritizing a healthy work environment and guiding teammates through their healing process, you can create a culture that strives toward this wholeness.

Example: Create an environment that serves your team by providing resources and support, including weekly 1:1 meetings, mentorship programs, or access to mental health care.

4. Awareness

Self-awareness and awareness of both their own and their team’s strengths and weaknesses are key traits of servant leaders. This helps them understand ethics and values in a more complete way.

Example: To increase your self-awareness, implement an honest, frequent feedback loop so your team can let you know what works for them and what doesn't. Keep track of your personal goals and plans.

5. Persuasion

Servant leaders use persuasion instead of authority to make decisions. Convincing teammates, rather than forcing them, is a key difference between servant leadership and an authoritarian style.

Using persuasion also helps build consensus and trust within a team.

Example: Next time your team is making a decision, try using the word "we" instead of "you" when presenting your strategy to make everyone feel more like it's a team decision.

6. Conceptualization

Thinking beyond day-to-day realities requires discipline and practice. However, the ability to view a project, team, or organization from a conceptual perspective allows servant leaders to keep dreaming of great things.

Example: Share dreams and aspirations with your team. Short-term goals are important, but with one eye on the horizon, you can continue to inspire your team members even on difficult days.

7. Foresight

Good leaders need to anticipate future events and how they will affect the team. This skill, called foresight, is developed over time through experience and intuition.

Example: Use tools like SWOT analysis to help you better understand past events, manage upcoming projects, and predict future outcomes.

8. Stewardship or accountability

Stewardship is "the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care." In his book on stewardship, Peter Block urges his readers to "act in service of the long run" and in service "to those with little power."

Inspired by Block, Spears added stewardship among the 10 servant leadership traits. This helps leaders recognize and meet others' needs. As a servant leader, the stewardship characteristic can help you uphold the trust and confidence your organization has placed in you.

Example: If you make a mistake, share the story with your team. Prove that you're holding yourself accountable, and show your team the steps you took to resolve the issue.

9. Commitment to the growth of people

Servant leadership theory emphasizes prioritizing the growth and well-being of individuals within an organization. Servant leaders empower team members by providing resources, support, and opportunities for personal and professional development.

Example: Demonstrate this servant leadership principle through concrete actions like allocating funds for professional development, encouraging your team's decisions, or assisting and supporting your team members beyond their work performance.

10. Building community

Leadership philosophy emphasizes creating a strong sense of community within teams. The principles of servant leadership guide leaders to foster trust and companionship, which drives both individual growth and team performance.

Instead of a top-down approach, servant leaders focus on working together. This helps teams feel connected, even when working remotely.

Example: In a virtual team, you can still build a strong community by regularly checking in with your teammates. Whether that's through weekly 1:1s, virtual coffee chats, or online team-building exercises, it's important to connect with your team members.

Servant leadership example

If traditional leadership styles have left your team feeling disengaged, you’re not alone. Servant leadership puts the team’s needs first. Here are some examples of how this approach can lead to lasting success.

1. Cheryl Bachelder: Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

Cheryl Bachelder, former CEO of Popeyes, turned the struggling brand around by applying servant leadership principles. Instead of focusing solely on profits, she prioritized empowering her employees and franchisees by building trust and collaboration. This shift led to a significant rise in the company's stock price and overall success.

2. Herb Kelleher: Southwest Airlines

Herb Kelleher, co-founder of Southwest Airlines, believed in putting employees first. By caring for his team, he created a loyal and motivated workforce that treated customers well, resulting in long-term profitability. His example demonstrates how serving employees leads to business success.

3. Nonprofit organizations

In nonprofit organizations like Habitat for Humanity, leaders embody servant leadership characteristics by working alongside volunteers to meet community needs. This hands-on approach strengthens team bonds and reinforces the organization's mission.

These examples show that servant leadership can work in many settings, from nonprofits to large companies. The main lesson is that traits like empathy, selflessness, and empowerment help motivate teams and lead to success.

How to become a servant leader

There are six actionable tips to help you learn to lead as a servant first.

1. Lead by example

A servant leader walks alongside their team members and leads by example. When managers put the same time and effort into projects as their teams, it encourages everyone to work hard and with integrity.

Leading by example is more than just about work. Servant leaders also model healthy habits, such as taking breaks to recharge, which encourages team members to do the same.

Example: As a servant leader, you may offer to lend a hand with a task that's not necessarily part of your job description to support a teammate. This allows your team members to focus on more important initiatives.

2. Show your team why their job matters

Team members care more about their work when they see how it connects to the company's bigger goals. Helping them understand their impact is an important part of servant leadership.

A servant leader can do this by acknowledging smaller milestones and consistently reminding their team of the bigger picture they're all contributing to.

Example: You can share success stories or ways in which a product or service has positively affected customers to motivate your team. At Asana, we connect our goals and the work to support them in one place, so teams can keep track of their progress.

3. Encourage teamwork

Servant leaders know that teams are stronger when they put in collective effort. They will encourage collaboration by giving each team member space to grow, a place to shine, and a group they can rely on.

Example: You can promote teamwork by frequently scheduling team-building activities. Whether that's through a virtual call or an in-person event, spending fun time together will strengthen your team's relationships.

4. Help your team members grow and develop

A key trait of servant leadership is helping your teammates grow both professionally and personally. Servant leaders support their team’s growth by:

• Giving team members opportunities to take on leadership roles during group projects

• Encouraging participation in education or development programs

• Helping teammates expand their skills

As a servant leader, you can help your team grow and develop by asking them about their goals. You can then create learning opportunities and milestones to help your team reach these goals.

5. Care personally for your team

Servant leaders not only support their team at work but also show real interest in their personal lives. Knowing what’s happening with team members helps leaders act with empathy.

A teammate facing a tough time will value extra support at work. This gratitude can boost morale and strengthen commitment. Caring personally helps build teams with strong work ethics.

I believe someone who is empathetic, passionate, and has good social skills is more likely to be a great leader.””

Example: Ask about your team's personal lives and share stories of your own to create a genuine relationship. This transparency creates a level of trust that will allow team members to share when they need extra support.

6. Always ask for feedback

Leaders who are open to feedback and encourage it stay self-aware, which is another key trait of servant leaders. Getting input from the team helps leaders keep improving their skills.

When teammates feel comfortable giving honest feedback, they are more likely to speak up about problems or challenges in projects.

Example: You can end meetings or emails with a few simple questions to gather honest feedback: "Do you have any feedback for me? Are there any things that I can improve on? What's working well for you?"

Pros and cons of servant leadership

Like any leadership style, servant leadership has its pros and cons. Before you choose this approach, consider these benefits and drawbacks:

Benefits of servant leadership

• Fosters strong team culture: Servant leaders give team members ownership, which boosts motivation, courage, and creativity.

• Creates people-focused culture: Servant leaders establish a people-focused culture by fostering deep, trusting relationships with and between their teammates. This level of trust allows teams to make decisions in the best interest of everyone involved.

• Boosts team morale: A team that feels seen and valued by their leader tends to have stronger integrity and show a higher level of pride in their work. Servant leaders can boost team morale and help develop future leaders.

Criticisms of servant leadership

• Formal authority may be lost: Servant leaders often connect personally with their teams, which can make it harder to maintain formal authority. Some people may take advantage of this openness.

• Time-intensive leadership style: Servant leadership takes time, energy, and experience. Leaders need to know their team members well, both professionally and personally, to support them fully.

• Team members may struggle with decision-making: By giving their team members opportunities to prove themselves, servant leaders also risk overestimating and overburdening their teammates. Individuals who don't have the confidence for data-driven decision making on their own may feel discouraged.

Remember, servant leadership may not fit with performance systems focused on short-term goals. Still, you can use this approach by being authentic, giving clear direction, and building a strong team community.

Serve your team by being the best leader for them

Whether you choose the servant, transformational, transactional, or laissez-faire leadership style as the right approach for yourself (or something entirely different) is ultimately up to you.

The best leaders adjust their style based on the situation, their team, and the needs of each project. The most important thing is to understand what motivates your team and support them so they can thrive.

Ready to put servant leadership into practice? A work management platform can help you stay connected to your team's goals, track progress, and create the transparency that servant leadership requires. Get started with Asana to give your team the clarity and support they need to do their best work.

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Frequently asked questions about servant leadership