What is Servant Leadership?

Servant leadership emphasizes serving teams rather than exercising authority, contrasting traditional hierarchical approaches. Rooted in ancient teachings and popularized by Robert K. Greenleaf, it highlights empathy, listening, and stewardship. Companies like Starbucks and Nordstrom illustrate its success in promoting employee growth and innovation. Though challenging culturally, servant leadership builds trust, collaboration, and long-term success, especially in creative sectors like IT. Leaders are encouraged to reflect and adopt a service-oriented mindset across all organizational levels.