We frequently hear the term “servant leader” used to describe an ideally “enlightened” manager
or executive. People who instinctively welcome the idea of servant leadership often see it as a
sort of inverted management pyramid, with executives supporting the rest of the organization.
Those who don’t may envision an overly idealistic or even paternalistic leader who is ineffectual
and not grounded in the hard realities of running a business.
What does it mean to be a servant leader, and how does it apply to lean leadership? We explored some background on the term and spoke with two lean leaders who shared their take on the concept, behaviors, and benefits of servant leadership…