What is “Servant-Leadership?”

Although we can hearken back to Jesus Christ for examples of service as leadership for the greater good, there’s no simple definition. (Perhaps ironically, while the philosophy is often tethered to Christianity, Robert Greenleaf — he who gave servant-leadership its name — was a Quaker!) In The Nonprofiteer’s Fundraising Field Guide I devote an entire (albeit brief) section to helping you better understand the practice.

The Servant as Leader

This is the essay that started it all. Penned in 1970 by Robert Greenleaf, it launched the practice into the mainstream. Brief by modern standards, Greenleaf’s words inspire and transform. This is a pivotal read for anyone wanting to go deeper and improve the whole of organizations, their people, and those they serve.

10 Characteristics of a Servant-Leader

In The Nonprofiteer’s Fundraising Field Guide, I explore the behaviors of servant-leadership to boost fundraising. I use scholar Larry Spears’ list of 10 behaviors — as extracted from the many of Greenleaf’s writings — as my starting point. This is a quick, great read to better understand the behaviors: listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of people, and building community.