7: Servant Leadership Theory

Unlike other leadership styles theories that were developed by academics, servant leadership was introduced by a practitioner. Servant leaders are those who serve their followers with empathy, who raise followers to their highest potential, built strong teams, and care about the communities in which they live and work. Servant leaders prioritize followers’ needs by listening to understand, engage in emotional healing by addressing followers’ unique needs, guide followers’ growth and potential through coaching, fostering autonomy, and addressing needs. This chapter explores the history and context around the servant leadership theory, defines the theory, and concludes with strengths and opportunities of the theory.