Servant Leadership and Robert K. Greenleaf’s Legacy

Abstract

The servant–leader concept continues to grow in its influence and im pact. In many ways, it can truly be said that the times are only now beginning to catch up with Robert Greenleaf’s visionary call to servant leadership. The idea of servant leadership, now in its fifth decade as a concept bearing that name, continues to create a quiet revolution in workplaces around the world. This chapter is intended to pro vide a broad overview of the growing influence this inspiring idea is having on people and their workplaces.

The servant-leader is servant first. It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. The best test is: do those served grow as persons; do they, while being served, be come healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to be come servants? And, what is the effect on the least privileged in society? Will they benefit, or at least not be further deprived?

(Robert K. Greenleaf, Servant Leadership, 1977/2002)