The Secret Effective Leaders Know

Many people desire to be in positions of leadership. However, they may not understand the concept of servant leadership. The most effective leaders do not attain their positions by defeating their opponents or holding others back. Instead, they inspire others and help them accomplish great things.

What is servant leadership?

Servant leadership first appeared as a concept in an essay by Robert Greenleaf, an AT&T executive who asserted that an organization with servant-first leadership would likely be highly effective and productive.

Service to others is the core of his philosophy. The servant leader does not look for ways to seek personal gain. Instead, the servant leader becomes influential by empowering others to become better leaders. Greenleaf defines a servant leader in his writing as an individual who is a servant first. Servant leadership isn't about positions and titles. Instead, it is an attitude that people and relationships are important, valuable, and essential to the success of an organization. Servant leaders put their people and their organizations before themselves and don't see employees as a means to an end. They don't seek personal success at the expense of others.

Servant leaders help others become better leaders.

Helping others in a non-self-serving way puts you in a significantly influential and leadership-oriented position. We see this play out repeatedly in various domains, such as politics, business, sports, and society. Emerging leaders are not the ones who discredit others or hold others back to maintain their positions. Instead, this kind of leadership can make a difference in your world. The old saying, A rising tide lifts all boats, illustrates how leadership is the difference-maker. By helping others become better leaders, you become one!