The concept of prioritizing service in leadership, known today as “servant leadership,” is not new, but the term itself was formalized by Robert K. Greenleaf. In his seminal 1970 essay, “The Servant as Leader,” Greenleaf introduced a powerful idea centered around the intrinsic desire to Define Serve before leading.
Greenleaf eloquently captured the essence of this approach, stating:
“The servant-leader is servant first… It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions…The leader-first and the servant-first are two extreme types. Between them there are shadings and blends that are part of the infinite variety of human nature.”
This definition underscores a fundamental shift in perspective. A servant leader starts with a deep-seated commitment to serve others. Leadership, in this context, is not about personal ambition or the accumulation of power, but rather a conscious decision to lead as a means to better define serve the needs of others. This contrasts sharply with the “leader-first” mentality, where leadership is pursued for personal gain or authority.
The impact of truly understanding how to define serve as a leader is profound. Greenleaf further elaborated on the critical test of servant leadership:
“The difference manifests itself in the care taken by the servant-first to make sure that other people’s highest priority needs are being served. The best test, and difficult to administer, is: Do those served grow as persons? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants? And, what is the effect on the least privileged in society? Will they benefit or at least not be further deprived?“
This highlights that to define serve effectively as a leader means focusing on the holistic growth and well-being of individuals and their communities. Servant leadership is measured by the positive impact it has on those being served – are they developing, becoming more empowered, and are the needs of the most vulnerable being considered?
In essence, to define serve within the framework of servant leadership is to invert the traditional leadership pyramid. Instead of concentrating power at the top, servant leaders share authority, prioritize the needs of their team members, and actively support their development and high performance. This approach fosters a culture of empowerment and collective growth, standing in stark contrast to traditional leadership models that often emphasize hierarchical control and individual achievement.
