John Spence, Contributor
Servant leadership is the foundation of thriving organizations.
In traditional leadership, leaders are positioned at the top of the organization, directing their teams on what to do. In contrast, servant leadership places leaders at the base, asking their team members, “What can I do to help you?”
Servant leaders prioritize lifting their people up, putting others’ needs first, and fostering a culture of trust and respect. This approach empowers individuals to excel, creates a collaborative and engaged team environment, and drives sustainable success.
You may be wondering what specific actions servant leaders take to uplift their teams and cultivate a thriving culture. What are the steps to becoming a servant leader? What types of things do servant leaders do for their teams?
The types of things servant leaders do are lead with empathy, practice self-awareness, listen actively, support others’ growth, build a sense of community, build trust through transparency, inspire with vision and purpose, act as a steward, persuade (rather than command), and show resilience and adaptability.
By taking these 10 powerful steps, you are demonstrating your commitment to helping team members succeed.
In this article, I will explore these 10 steps and provide actionable advice on how to implement each step effectively in your organization.
Step 1: Lead with Empathy
Empathy starts with genuine care. Empathetic leaders understand their people’s challenges and dreams, making team members feel valued and supported as individuals.
Showing empathy means slowing down, taking time to listen, and connecting with what others feel. Some aspects of empathy come naturally, but with focus and practice, you can strengthen this skill.
When you lead with empathy, you build trust. People feel safe, understood, and comfortable bringing their true selves to work.
They know they don’t need to put on a mask. They can be who they are, knowing their leader understands and supports them.
Action Steps:
- Hold regular one-on-ones to understand your team members’ goals and concerns.
- Listen actively, asking clarifying questions and acknowledging emotions.
- Keep an open-door policy so team members feel free to bring ideas or concerns.
Step 2: Practice Self-Awareness
Self-awareness is knowing your strengths, weaknesses, and impact. This practice is often called “mindfulness,” though I prefer “thoughtfulness.”
Self-aware leaders are thoughtful and introspective, always working to understand themselves better.
This skill can be challenging because introspection requires you to be completely honest with yourself. You need to admit your mistakes and recognize your faults.
While self-reflection allows you to celebrate strengths, much of it focuses on areas where you can improve. Self-aware leaders recognize their blind spots, seek feedback, and make thoughtful adjustments.
Action Steps:
- Seek honest feedback through check-ins or anonymous surveys.
- Reflect on your daily interactions to consider how they may have impacted others.
- Set personal growth goals in key areas, and track your progress.
Step 3: Listen Actively
Listening is at the heart of servant leadership, but being a superb listener takes real effort and focus.
Many people assume listening is easy, but intentional listening is hard work. It requires active engagement and concentration.
The best leaders know that listening goes beyond hearing words—it’s about being fully present and engaging deeply with others’ thoughts, needs, and ideas.
Servant leaders ask focused questions and show genuine curiosity. This kind of proactive listening makes the speaker feel understood and shows that their ideas are important.
Action Steps:
- Remove distractions during conversations to give full attention.
- Use reflective statements like, “What I’m hearing is…” to show understanding.
- Invite input on decisions to show that you value team members’ perspectives.
Step 4: Support the Growth of Others
Servant leaders prioritize their team’s growth, personally and professionally. The best way to support others’ growth is to model it yourself.
Leaders committed to personal development and lifelong learning set the tone for the entire organization.
At this moment, more information is available than at any time in history, much of it free. This abundance of easily accessible information presents a unique opportunity for individuals and organizations to continuously evolve, improve their skills, and stay ahead in an environment of constant change.
Servant leaders invest in their people, but they also help them find valuable, no-cost resources. There is no excuse not to have a robust program for helping your people improve their skills and performance.
Action Steps:
- Collaborate with team members to create personalized development plans.
- Offer resources like training or mentoring that support their goals.
- Celebrate milestones in their growth to show you value their progress.
Step 5: Build a Sense of Community
Building a community means creating connections and shared values. Community gives people a sense of belonging, showing them they are part of something bigger than themselves.
When people feel they’re “one of us,” they feel pride and loyalty toward the team.
A strong community drives commitment and motivates people to work toward shared success. Community turns work into something meaningful, not just a job.
Action Steps:
- Host team-building activities to strengthen bonds.
- Acknowledge individual and team achievements in meetings.
- Encourage collaboration across departments to broaden connections.
Step 6: Build Trust Through Transparency
Trust is woven throughout every one of these steps for a reason: without trust, there is no leadership. It’s the foundation of every relationship and team.
Servant leaders know that creating a high-trust environment is their highest priority. Transparency builds trust. Servant leaders keep their teams informed about goals, changes, and challenges.
When you’re open and honest, you create a culture of integrity, and people feel safe to be honest in return. Trust makes teamwork smoother and more effective.
Action Steps:
- Communicate openly about changes and explain key decisions.
- Invite questions and feedback to keep an open dialogue.
- Follow through on commitments to show you’re reliable.
Step 7: Inspire with Vision and Purpose
Servant leaders inspire people with a sense of purpose. A compelling vision connects daily work to larger goals and helps people see that their work makes a difference to the organization, community, and, in some way, the world.
Purpose is one of the strongest drivers of commitment and engagement. People who believe in the organization’s vision and purpose bring passion to their work.
Work becomes more than just a job—it becomes a way to serve others. This is the essence of servant leadership: we are all here to serve.
Action Steps:
- Regularly communicate your organization’s mission and values.
- Show how each person’s work contributes to the organization’s goals.
- Encourage personal goals that align with the organization’s purpose.
Step 8: Act as a Steward
Servant leaders are stewards, focused on long-term team well-being over short-term personal gain. Stewardship is about building a legacy of servant leadership and creating a company that will last for generations.
One of my favorite quotes captures this perfectly: “You must plant the seeds of trees under which you may never sit.”
Servant leaders think long-term about the company and their people, prioritizing the growth and success of both.
Action Steps:
- Model ethical behavior and transparency in decision-making.
- Encourage responsible use of resources, such as time and company assets.
- Plan for the future by mentoring emerging leaders.
Step 9: Persuade Rather Than Command
Years ago, leaders led with command and control. They issued orders and expected obedience with a “do as I say, not as I do” mindset. That no longer works.
Today’s employees demand a leader who treats them with respect. They want to be treated as peers and partners. This creates an atmosphere where people are motivated to give their best.
Servant leaders are persuasive not because of their titles but because of their actions. The number one factor in attracting and keeping top talent is the quality of their leader—someone they can trust, respect, and look up to.
Action Steps:
- Involve the team in key decisions by discussing options and inviting input.
- Explain the reasoning behind your suggestions.
- Facilitate group discussions so team members can share their views.
Step 10: Show Resilience and Adaptability
Today’s leaders must be resilient and adaptable.
Everyone has what’s called an “Adaptability Quotient” or AQ—the ability to navigate change effectively. Every organization faces constant change, and it’s only increasing.
Servant leaders understand this and work to build resilience within their team and organization. They stay calm during adversity and view challenges as learning opportunities.
This mindset builds confidence and prepares the team to face future obstacles.
Action Steps:
- Emphasize a growth mindset, seeing setbacks as chances to learn.
- Show openness to new ideas and adapt as needed to solve problems.
- Encourage team members to embrace challenges by providing support.
Why Servant Leadership Matters
Being a leader is a tremendous responsibility. Your words and actions have a powerful impact on those you lead.
There are many different definitions of what leadership is. Here is mine. “When you become a living example of what you hope your followers will one day become.”
As a servant leader, you are challenged to embody kindness, respect, and a genuine concern for others.
Make no mistake, you must run a successful and profitable organization. That is one of the major ways to show that you care about your people. You want to take care of them both personally and financially.
As I’ve often heard said, “No margin, no mission.” Servant leaders grow a great company by growing great people. There are few things more rewarding.
John Spence is a keynote speaker, consultant, and executive coach, who was named by the American Management Association as one of America’s Top 50 Leaders to Watch along with Sergey Brin and Larry Page of Google and Jeff Bezos of Amazon. He is the author of the acclaimed book on business excellence, Awesomely Simple.
