Servant Leadership Can Be Seen in These Exemplary Leaders

Seeing servant leadership in action or having examples of what it looks like is one of the best ways to further understand what servant leadership is. Leadership is driven from individuals, but when you build a culture of servant leadership, the company itself can become a leader showing other organizations that it does not have to be an individual contribution only. We will look at examples of both individual and company leaders that demonstrate what servant leadership is and can be.Interestingly, many famous servant leaders are the subject of some controversy, showing how easy it can be to misunderstand one who is serving so selflessly. Time ends up being a component of the effectiveness of servant leaders. If we look at examples like Abraham Lincoln, or Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, both have endured the test of time but were certainly controversial while they were leading. I do not mean to suggest that servant leaders need to give their life to their cause, as Lincoln and King Jr. did, but through their work and their stories they did dedicate themselves to their cause and stood up to the critics and popular thoughts of the time.There are plenty of other examples of leaders that have served that have stood the test of time. Mahatma Gandhi or Mother Theresa are additional examples of world figures that placed others ahead of themselves to serve a greater good. Again, these may be extreme examples of giving of oneself to serve those around them, but they continue to illustrate what servant leadership can look like.If we shift for a moment to the business world and use Southwest Airlines as a company example of a collection of servant leaders, we can see that it doesn’t have to be the extreme that we see from the previous models. Southwest Airlines has been a leader in the airline industry for decades now. It has been lead by individuals that supported a culture where the people worked for each other and those they were paid to serve. Southwest has historically led all airlines in customer satisfaction. They maintain a level of fun and enthusiasm in a challenging business that is unrivaled in domestic airlines. That all comes from being culturally connected to understanding that they serve others before they serve themselves. Herb Kelleher f founded the company and built a foundation of love amongst the employees and the customers. That feeling continues today. It is so ingrained in their culture that the company’s stock symbol is LUV on the New York Stock Exchange.Ritz-Carlton is another example of a company that places serving others above all else. The first thing anyone working for the company sees is their motto - “We are ladies and gentlemen, serving ladies and gentlemen.” Without spending much time dissecting that statement, the fact that they first identify themselves as ladies and gentlemen sets a stage of respect at all levels of the organization. Additionally, they are serving other ladies and gentlemen. At Ritz, they do mean serving beyond the surface level customer service you may find at other hotels. They create extraordinary experiences for their guests consistently. That only comes from seeking to serve others first.Ken Blanchard recently released a book, Servant Leadership in Action that provides many different examples of servant leaders. The book takes many current thought leaders and asks them for their ideas and people they identified as servant leaders. It is well worth the read (or listen if you enjoy audiobooks as I do).Servant leaders also do not need to be famous or CEOs of a company. They are everywhere and touch our lives in different ways. It could be someone you work for or work with. It could be a coach or a teacher. Each of us likely has the examples we need to gain a better understanding of what servant leadership looks like. I can recall my sixth-grade teacher - Mrs. Masino as someone that dedicated herself to her students. She pushed us in so many positive ways. It was the first time I can ever recall enjoying writing. She inspired a different way of thinking and creative spirit that I still do not remember getting from any other teacher. Her sponsorship of Young Authors Day at the school made it possible for entire classrooms of students to feel the excitement of creating and publishing a book. The smile she brought each day, the passion she had for teaching, and the care she provided each of her students makes her a shining example of what a servant leader is.With the many examples shared here, it is easy to see that servant leadership is more than a style or a skill; it is a way of being. That can take on many forms and characteristics. Different leaders serve different people - when you combine the concepts of situational leadership and servant leadership they will connect with the people that it means the most too. That ultimately creates the power of being a leader that serves others first.Who are the examples of servant leaders in your life? Share your memories and stories in the comments section.Join other retail leaders in continuing their development journey with Effective Retail Leader.com. SUBSCRIBE today to receive leadership tips directly to your inbox and monthly newsletters that provide many tools to help further develop your leadership skills. 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