The Problems With Servant Leadership

Why It Hasn’t Impacted Leadership Success In Over 50 Years

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There is a lot that I enjoy about the Servant Leadership Model.

In the world of Leadership Development, it is one of the better types that exist.

Originally coined by Robert K. Greenleaf in an Essay called The Servant As Leader, published in 1970, it became the basis for frameworks that are still used today.

But for all its merits, there are reasons that it generally hasn’t led to Leadership Success in over 50 Years.

Is it because Servant Leadership is Inherently Bad or Wrong?

Absolutely Not!

Many of the concepts I use with Clients myself.

So what are the Problems then?

The first major flaw of Servant Leadership is that it is a Skills-Based Model.

The original concepts taught things like the Importance of Awareness, Foresight, and Listening.

Since then, others have expanded to include things like Putting People First, Becoming a Skilled Communicator, Being a Compassionate Collaborator, and using Systems Thinking.