by David Dewitt

Created on: January 30, 2010

Servant leadership has become one of the fastest growing trends in leadership and management circles. Servant leadership bases its main purpose as changing the culture of leadership to create the maximum amount of positive change. What is it that makes servant leadership so popular? Why are so many major corporations adopting these principles for their business?

The benefits of servant leadership are too numerous to count. The following are just a few of the reasons that servant leadership is viewed as beneficial to companies, corporations and nonprofit organizations.

The purpose of servant leadership

The philosophy of servant leadership reveals that the leader is not the master of all but should be the servant of all. Leaders take a different approach and seek to build others up and bring the maximum benefit to the organization. Servant leadership seeks the best for other people because it is one of the best ways to build a strong company. The idea of service resonates in many different company structures and fits effectively with service related fields. The attitude that the company will go great measures to meet the customers needs.

Focus shifts from self

The economic meltdown in the United States has created a different kind of corporate philosophy. Specifically the banking industry seems to be the most affected. The idea that executives are focused only on their bonuses and multi-million dollar salary packages is meeting with heavy resistance. The concept of selfishness finds power in greed, lying, and cheating consumers. Servant leaders take the focus away from themselves and place it back where it belongs, on other people. Leaders become focused on the best interests of others both employees and consumers.

Servant leadership adopts a team approach

Servant leaders are keenly aware of their strengths and limitations. The servant leader seeks to build teams that magnify strengths and compensate for weaknesses. The purpose is to create the best overall possibility for success. People want to know that they matter to the company they work for and that they add value to the overall picture. Servant leaders can seldom accomplish anything of lasting value alone. Leaders must develop and build an effective team to make success long lasting and continuous on the long term.

Servant leadership adopts a higher purpose

Many companies, corporations and even nonprofits have adopted general goals that are either financial focused or financial driven. These philosophies often create a detour in purpose from the main objectives. The servant driven leader seeks the greater good of the company. Greater good is not always focused on the financial gains of the company or organization.

The higher purpose becomes one that shifts intention and focus from the profit margin to the people margin. Money and financial gain are often not the bottom line. People are the bottom line. Doing what is best for the employees, stockholders and consumers becomes the primary objective.

The benefits of servant leadership are many but these few instances help find focus and purpose beyond the bottom line of the company. When leaders focus on doing their best for the good of others, it is beneficial. Servant leadership is anything but easy but it does create an atmosphere that allows the focus to shift from selfish purposes to selfless purposes. Servant leadership adopts higher purposes than just making money. Servant leaders seek to build effective teams around themselves.

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