Book SummaryServant Leadership, by Robert Greenleaf

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Servant Leadership

Servant Leadership is Robert K. Greenleaf’s answer to the failure of modern institutions to meet the needs of those they serve and employ. He argues that institutions and the individuals within them should adopt the philosophy of servant leadership: prioritizing their followers’ needs, thus enabling those followers to achieve their goals and empowering them to be of service to others in turn. According to Greenleaf, servant leaders have the potential to improve society by leaps and bounds, in every facet of life.

Greenleaf’s advice is based on what he observed during his career as an AT&T executive and business consultant. Since he coined the concept of servant...

Servant Leadership Summary The Philosophy of Servant Leadership

Greenleaf believes that servant leaders will pave the way toward a better future—but what is servant leadership, exactly? In this section, we’ll define the concept, list some of the qualities you need to be a servant leader, and explain why servant leadership would improve society.

What Is Servant Leadership?

According to Greenleaf, servant leadership is a three-pronged philosophy with the primary aim of making the world a better place. The first prong is a vision of the common good—a goal that would significantly improve the lives of most people, if not everybody. The second prong is a sense of social responsibility—a desire to altruistically serve others’ needs, prioritizing them ahead of your own interests (like money, power, or glory). The third prong is inspiration—to be a servant leader, you must be able to convince and motivate others to pursue your vision by becoming servants themselves. To illustrate, some say that the civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr. exemplified the servant leadership philosophy.

(Shortform note: [Servant leadership is...

Servant Leadership Summary The Ideal Institution

Recall Greenleaf’s belief that institutions have a social responsibility to meet the needs of those they serve. In this section, we’ll explain how servant leaders can transform underperforming institutions into ideal institutions that fulfill their social responsibility. First, we’ll define the ideal institution in greater detail. Then, we’ll explain why institutions should be led by trustees who are servant leaders and how trustees can build the ideal institution.

What Is an Ideal Institution?

Greenleaf believes ideal institutions are those that fulfill their social responsibility to be of service and that they constitute the basis of a healthy society. He reasons that if every institution prioritizes helping people meet their needs, then everyone will get their needs met. In contrast, if every institution prioritizes its own money, power, or fame, some people’s needs will continue to go unmet or even increase. For example, a business might sell a carcinogenic product like cigarettes because it’s profitable, without consideration for the harm it might do to consumers. Like the quintessential servant leader Leo, ideal institutions are only entrusted with power,...

Servant Leadership Summary Actionable Advice for Institutions and Individuals

Now that you know what servant leadership is and understand its importance in ideal institutions, you may be wondering what you can do with that information. In this section, we’ll break down Greenleaf’s advice about how different kinds of institutions can fulfill their unique social responsibilities. Finally, we’ll discuss what you can do as an individual—no matter what institutional role you occupy—to fulfill your social responsibility.

Advice for Churches

According to Greenleaf, the social responsibility of churches is to unite spiritual seekers with spiritual visionaries who can help them grapple with relevant moral issues. He uses the Quaker leader George Fox as an exemplar, arguing that Fox successfully convinced other Quakers of the spiritual importance of treating people lovingly in all parts of life—which contributed to the Quakers’ push for gender equality, the abolition of slavery, and fair business dealings.

(Shortform note: One of the Quakers’ fundamental beliefs is the spiritual equality of all humans—in fact, George Fox started the Quaker movement in part because [he rejected the...

Shortform Exercise: Unleash Your Servant Leadership Potential

According to Greenleaf, anyone in any position of power can become a servant leader. In this exercise, you’ll evaluate your leadership potential and come up with a plan to unleash that potential.

What traits do you have that might make you a good servant leader? Recall that Greenleaf says servant leaders have five key characteristics: self-responsibility, intuition, perseverance, good communication, and a nurturing spirit.