🧭How Servant Leadership Makes a Difference

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Here’s where we’re headed today:

• Robert Greenleaf on servant leadership

• Why servant leadership matters

• 3 amazing leadership stories on the founder of Southwest

• Heartwarming video on the power of support

Robert Greenleaf on Servant Leadership

"The first and most important choice a leader makes is the choice to serve, without which one’s capacity to lead is severely limited."

- Robert Greenleaf, founder of Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership

Why Servant Leadership is Important

Great leaders believe they serve the team. Leadership isn't about receiving anything from your team, but rather being there to give to your team.

Servant leadership is the art of letting go and realizing that the real power comes from empowering others, caring for others, and giving them what they need.

1. It means realizing that you have to empower and let go at times - This is the art of letting go as a leader. You have to have faith and trust your team. Empower them, love them, and care for them. You have to be smart, tough, and use good judgment. It should be easy to serve them and want to see them at their best.

2. It means leading by example - It shouldn't just be about yourself, but rather the team. You should have a great attitude, be collaborative, and work together. You set the tone as a leader with your actions and behavior.

3. It means truly caring for others - It starts with connection and caring. You should truly care about the people and what is in their best interest. Ask what is driving your motives and thoughts. Make sure that your motivations align with theirs.

4. It means getting feedback - Serve the team by learning from the team. Ask for ideas on improvement, growth, and change. The 4 important words that you can ask someone are, “What do you think?”

5. It means helping others grow and develop - It’s easy to just sit back and wait around, but you need to take action. You need to help people get to where they need to be. Ask how are we doing? And how can I help?

Servant leadership is wanting to see others at their best.

How Herb Kelleher Used Servant Leadership to Make a Difference at Southwest

Herb Kelleher, the co-founder and former CEO of Southwest, is the epitome of servant leadership. At the core of his approach was his unparalleled ability to care for the people. That gets exemplified in a few of the examples below.

Story 1 - Years ago on bosses day, over 15,000 employees of Southwest Airlines took out a full-page ad in USA today to show their gratitude for their CEO. They thanked him for his singing at holiday parties, his willingness to load bags on Thanksgiving, how he listened to them, how treated them, and how he instituted casual dress days.

Takeaway: When you listen and are present, you make people feel heard. You tell them that their voice has meaning and by doing that, you show that you care about them. Servant leadership starts with connection and caring.

Story 2 - Herb Kelleher was known for his ability to remember people’s names. Employees would always marvel when Herb would come visit them over a year later and he would still remember their names. Herb’s favorite story he likes to tell is about an interaction with another CEO. The CEO wanted advice on how he could create a “Southwest-like” culture. Well, minutes before this, the CEO was in the elevator with other employees and he didn’t acknowledge them or even say a word. Herb’s famous quote to the CEO was, "You might start by saying ‘Hello' to your people."

Takeaway: It starts with your behaviors and actions. Lose your ego, be your authentic self and be approachable. People follow you when they know you take the time to learn a little bit about them, and sometimes it’s the simple things.

Story 3 - In 1995, Herb Kelleher and his team were negotiating with the pilot’s union over age increases and stock options. During the negotiations, Herb actually went out of his way to help the pilots. He told them that their ask for stock options was too low and it wouldn’t be a good deal in the long run, ultimately suggesting that they should ask for more. They agreed to a number and it was a historic contract. After the negotiation, Herb told the union, “what's good for you is good for me as well.”

Takeaway: Be someone that people can trust. Life is longer than just one incident or event because your character stays with you forever. When people trust you, they know what your values are and that you represent integrity.

The Power of Support and Encouragement

Inspiring video of a kid at karate class having trouble breaking a board. You have to watch and see what it takes to break it.

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