🧭 How to Be the Leader People Actually Want to Follow

Robert Greenleaf on Servant Leadership

“Servant leadership always empathizes, always accepts the person, but sometimes refuses to accept some of the person’s effort or performance as good enough.” - Robert Greenleaf, creator of Servant Leadership

The Power of Being a Servant Leader

Everyone loves the idea of servant leadership. But few people understand what it actually means. It’s not about being passive. It’s not about being soft. And it’s definitely not about letting people walk all over you.

Done right, servant leadership is one of the most powerful, culture-shaping leadership philosophies out there. It creates trust, deepens connection, and unlocks long-term performance.

Why this matters: Servant leadership flips the traditional hierarchical thinking. Instead of the team serving the leader, the leader serves the team. That doesn’t mean coddling people or removing accountability - it means creating the conditions for others to thrive.

🔍 What to know

1️⃣ Servant Leadership Flips the Org Chart

In most organizations, power flows top-down. In great teams, leaders serve from the bottom up. Frank Clark, the former CEO of Home Depot, mastered the inverted pyramid model. This “inverted pyramid” model means:

• You remove friction, not add layers.

• You focus on what your team needs, not your ego.

• You see yourself as a support system, not a taskmaster.

2️⃣ It’s Not Weak. It’s Strategic.

Servant leadership isn’t about being soft. It’s about being strong enough to make it not about you. It means mastering the principle of humility. Here’s what people often get wrong:

• They confuse kindness with weakness.

• They think service means avoiding tough conversations.

• They assume leaders have to command, not connect.

But the best leaders hold high standards and high support at the same time.
They serve the mission and the people equally. It takes humility to step back, guide, trust and align, then execute.

📚 So what can we learn from this and how can we use this?

Think of leadership as a support role, not a spotlight role. Great leaders don’t just “get results.” They build people who get results. Here’s how to lead with service and strength:

1. Start with the mission - What are we really here to do and how can I help others do it better?

2. Ask more questions - “How can I help?” “What’s getting in your way?” “What do you need from me?”

3. Coach, don’t just command - Guide, teach, and challenge people to rise to the standard, not fear it.

4. Build trust through actions - Show up early. Take the hard jobs. Own the mistakes. Praise in public. Correct in private.

➡️ In this week’s premium newsletter, we break down the 3 red flags of misused servant leadership and how to fix them. Start your free trial today.

🧠Questions to Ask Others You’re Leading

• What does it feel like to be led by me?

• Where can I serve better without lowering the standard?

• What’s one thing I can remove this week to make your life easier?

• Am I leading for results… or to grow people?

Final Thoughts:

You gain influence when you look to serve others. The best leaders don’t need to yell to be heard and they don’t need the spotlight to lead. They simply show up every day and say:

“I work for my team.”

And that’s why their team works for them.

Favorite Posts I Found This Week

Free Mental Fitness Links 👇

For coaches and leaders:

• Why the best coaches are truth tellers

• Tony Dungy’s 6 character principles

• 5 steps to being a better servant leader

• Bill Belichick on how to be a great teammate

For athletes and performers:

• 8 things you can guarantee every day

• Dabo Swinney’s 4 principles for greatness

• 6 preparation habits of successful people

• 3 mental strategies to learn from Rory McIlroy

What I am reading and listening to:

📚 Book: Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success by Phil Jackson

🎥 Video: Phil Jackson in conversation with John Salley at Live Talks Los Angeles

🎧Podcast: *Episode 209: The Twin Thieves and the Mindset of Great Leaders with Steve Jones | Never Stop Getting Better with John Perry

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