No answer to the question, “What is servant leadership?” would be complete without a look back at the evolution of that concept. Servant leadership is not a new philosophy; in fact, it’s been around for centuries.
One of the earliest known references to servant leadership comes from the ancient Chinese philosopher Laozi (also spelled Lao-Tzu and Lao-Tze). Laozi was the founder of Daoism, a philosophical school of thought, and is believed to have lived during the 5th or 6th century BC.
Laozi wrote the following about the role of the leader: “The highest type of ruler is one of whose existence the people are barely aware…The Sage is self-effacing and scanty of words. When his task is accomplished and things have been completed, all the people say ‘We ourselves have achieved it!’”1
From this quote, we can derive several pearls of wisdom. First, Laozi notes that effective leaders are individuals “of whose existence the people are barely aware.” This doesn’t mean that good leaders are seldom seen or heard from, but rather that good leaders are those who put the spotlight on others instead of seeking all of the fame and glory for themselves.
Next, good leaders are “scanty of words.” This doesn’t mean that executives should shy away from shareholder meetings and say next to nothing. Instead, they should encourage others to contribute to the discussion and share their own perspectives.
Lastly, Laozi notes that under a good leader, others can take credit for accomplishments.
In modern times, the term “servant leader” is believed to have been coined by Robert Greenleaf, who wrote a scholarly essay on the subject in the 1970s. Since that time, the concept of servant leadership has spread, becoming popular across all types of businesses.
In Greenleaf’s view, true leaders are servants first and leaders second. They grow into a leadership position by serving others, uplifting them and empowering them to achieve their full potential.