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While the idea of a “servant leader” can be found in religious and philosophical teachings throughout history, an essay published by Robert K. Greenleaf in 1970 entitled “The Servant as Leader” brought the concept to the modern business world. In it, Greeleaf outlines how a servant leader prioritizes the needs of others, empowering and supporting them to achieve their goals and serving the greater good of the organization or community.
Leaders who adopt a servant leadership style find that it helps foster employee engagement and satisfaction, drive productivity and promote a collaborative culture of trust. Below, members of Forbes Coaches Council share examples of what it means to be a servant leader in 2024, illustrating why it is essential for leaders navigating the complexities of today’s business environments to embrace the concept.
1. Create Psychological Safety
Servant leadership is the answer to 2024’s workplace challenges. Servant leaders create psychological safety through transparency, empathy and deep listening. They empower people through support and mentorship. They prioritize employee well-being and engagement. This style uniquely meets the needs of remote and Gen-Z staff, unleashing their potential and fostering a thriving, inclusive workforce. - Jamie Lewis Smith, Pixel Leadership Group, LLC
2. Prioritize People
Imagine a stressed team. A traditional leader pushes them for results. A servant leader listens, empowers them with flexible deadlines and focuses on their growth through training. This reduces burnout and boosts morale, leading to a happier, more productive team. Having a human-centric leadership approach is a valued skill in this digital era. - Anthony Howard, HR Certified LLC
3. Practice Active Listening
Servant leaders in 2024 practice active listening, use empathy and commit to the growth of people. There are five generations in the U.S. workforce, each with varying core values and expectations around communication and work-life balance. A servant leader must listen with all of their senses, be receptive to understanding what matters to others, and encourage, value and incorporate their ideas. - Deborah Vereen, THE VEREEN GROUP
4. Ask People How You Can Best Serve Them
Ask people, “How can I best serve or support you?” at the beginning of a meeting, project or quarter. By asking this question and listening to their answers with curiosity, compassion and courage, you are living servant leadership. Listening is an act of service. It does not mean that you agree with everything said; at times, you might need to set boundaries around asks as an act of service. - Katharina Schmidt, Inspiration & Discipline
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5. Ensure The Team Gets Deserved Credit
The key to servant leadership, from a leader’s perspective, is to manage the ego. Servant leadership is all about growth of their people and how the leader can help coach, mentor and remove obstacles. Practically, it means putting oneself out of the limelight to ensure that the team gets the credit they deserve—creating a team of people who will remember you for years. - Philippe Mathijs, Reach Outstanding
6. Prioritize The Team’s Growth And Resilience
A servant leader leads from the front, but has the team’s back. An example might be when a team misses an important deadline. Rather than admonish the team, a servant leader will focus on how they can do better next time. What did they learn? And how might they maximize their strengths and minimize their weaknesses in the future? - Dr. Michele D’Amico, Vetta Consultants LLC
7. Establish Clear Objectives Up Front
A servant leader understands and accepts that their own success is conditional on the growth of their team. So their job is to not only remove obstacles blocking their team, but also to really promote self-growth, agency, safety and psychological well-being to help their team thrive, with clear objectives established up front. They are the enablers of their team’s talent. - Veronique Bogliolo Friedman, Bogliolo Coaching & Consulting
8. Prioritize Employee Well-Being
A leader who prioritizes employee well-being, listens actively and empowers teams to make decisions embodies servant leadership. For instance, regularly conducting one-on-one check-ins, implementing flexible work policies and fostering a culture of open communication will demonstrate a commitment to serving and supporting the team’s growth and success. - Karla Aljanabi, Career Building Coach
9. Engage With Front-Line Workers
In 2024, a servant leader prioritizes others’ needs and empowers team members. A CEO who engages with front-line employees, listens to their ideas and implements initiatives based on their feedback, for example, is a servant leader. Additionally, they prioritize employee development through mentorship and training, fostering a supportive work environment that drives greater satisfaction and productivity. - Rukayat Alabi, RKY Careers
10. Address Your Team’s Most Pressing Challenges
Servant leaders not only put their teams first, but are also willing to accept responsibility for addressing their most pressing challenges, dedicating talent, time and resources to finding and implementing solutions. This shows up in areas ranging from designing employee-friendly HR policies to being open to pivoting on strategies when presented with compelling data. It’s about listening—and acting! - Joanne Heyman, Heyman Partners
11. Follow The ‘Platinum Rule’
By taking into account the “platinum rule,” a leader can best serve. What’s the platinum rule? Do unto others as they wish to be treated. Applying this on an individual level so that every person feels they have been considered increases the power of the rule. Employee surveys can provide direction. Examples can include increasing autonomy in individuals’ work and having career path discussions. - David Yudis, Potential Selves
12. Believe That People Want (And Know How) To Succeed
Servant leadership begins with believing people do not come to work to fail and knowing the people doing the work know best how to improve the work. Be curious and seek to understand. As you listen intently, you are showing you care. As you execute on ideas, people feel more valued. Engagement and loyalty will follow, and your value as a leader will rise. - Marti Evans, Leap Dialogues
13. Lead With Empathy
Embracing the ethos of a servant leader in 2024 means embodying a leadership style that prioritizes the growth and well-being of team members and the communities to which they belong. It’s about leading with empathy, focusing on the development of others and fostering an environment where everyone feels empowered and valued. However, what this looks like may depend on the industry. - Michelle Maree, The Nomad Escape
14. Champion Empowerment Over Authority
A servant leader prioritizes their team’s growth, championing empowerment over authority. For example, imagine a manager who schedules weekly one-on-one meetings to understand individual challenges and aspirations, then tailors support and opportunities accordingly. This type of approach fosters a culture of trust, collaboration and shared success, encouraging everyone to contribute their best. - Kerri Sutey, Sutey Coaching & Consulting LLC
15. Actively Mentor Staff
In 2024, being a servant leader in India means prioritizing employees’ growth and well-being. Take the example of Tata Group, where leaders actively mentor staff, support community initiatives and foster an inclusive workplace culture. This approach not only enhances employee satisfaction, but also drives sustainable business success, embodying the true spirit of servant leadership in modern India. - Bhaskar Natarajan, Bhaskar Natarajan, MCC
16. Truly Get To Know Your People
Make the time to truly get to know your people, personally and professionally. Dig in. Understand what makes them tick and how to best leverage their talents. Give them periodic feedback. Don’t be afraid of hard conversations. People don’t need a “buddy”; they need to be challenged, led, mentored and held accountable. The best way to serve people is take them to a place they can’t get to on their own. - Jason Ballard, Soar Higher Coaching & Training
17. Apply The Acronym TOUCH
In the era of artificial intelligence, a servant leader applies the acronym TOUCH by Treating team members with kindness, Over-delivering on commitments, Understanding needs through listening, Connecting with honest dialogue, and Humbly serving with tech-augmented projects. They leverage AI for efficiency, ensuring technology enhances human connection and community impact, embodying leadership that blends empathy with innovation. - Farshad Asl, Top Leaders, Inc.
18. Be Deeply Committed To Those You Serve
Servant leaders are empathetic and flexible and have a deep commitment to the well-being of the people and communities they serve. I worked for the president of an organization who was a servant leader. When my father had a medical emergency, she encouraged me to be with him and offered to cover my key responsibilities until I returned. Being a servant leader brings a huge return on investment. - Cindy Lamir, Impact Business Coaches
19. Put Team Members’ Needs Before Your Own
A servant leader is a nurturing figure who puts team members’ needs before their own. Driven by generosity and genuine care for the greater good, this leader serves their people by being humble and considerate, respecting their team members’ abilities, and delivering what each person needs based on their specific competencies and character. - Abdulaziz Al-Roomi, Global Legacy Management Consulting & Training
20. Jump In And Take Action To Support The Team
One great example of a servant leader is a software engineering manager who jumps in to write lines of code, ensuring the team meets the deadline. Though writing code may no longer be in their job description as a manager, a servant leader will take action when their team needs additional support, rather than watching and supporting from the sidelines. - Michael Timmes, Insperity
