Servant leadership is a very popular leadership. In this case we can not associate the terms though. A leader who uses this type of leadership would not go and open the door for his/her team members, serve the coffee for them or act in any similar way to this, but they take into account their followers’ personal growth. A servant leader actively contributes to the personal development and performance of their team, puts other people’s needs first and shares power with them.

This leadership style’s characteristics can be grouped as follows:

1. Empathy

Leaders who use this type of leadership style, recognize and understand the feelings and emotions which are lived by their team. As a consequence, their actions are driven by an honest desire to help others.

2. Listening

These types of leaders are really good listeners. They can get a complete understanding of the interpersonal situations that they are dealing with. They use active listening in order to resolve conflicts and advise others.

3. Awareness

Many people in leading positions are being ignorant related to their inadequacies. But this can not be said about servant leaders. These leaders are completely aware of their strengths, weaknesses, values, emotions and feelings. As a result of this self-awareness, these leaders are able to understand their biases and put them aside in the decision-making processes.

4. Healing

People in general, therefore also followers in a servant leaders’ team, typically desire a leader who shows genuine interest in fostering their emotional and spiritual well-being. By applying active listening, therefore trying to take an active role in strengthening their followers emotionally and mentally, servant leaders inspire an exceptional level of trust and faith to others.

5. Conceptualization

Servant leaders have the very important quality of conceptualization. This means that they can imagine the possibilities of the future and merge them with the present realities. This ability helps them in visioning a bright future as well as to plan the needed steps in order to get to that bright future.

6. Persuasive

It is easy for a servant leader to influence the opinions and actions of others through persuasive skills. This quality comes in handy in negotiations with business partners, customers, and stakeholders. Since servant leaders are committed to the welfare of others, they use this ability only to influence others positively.

7. Stewardship

This characteristic is referring to the fact that the leader is acting as a steward for the organizations’ resources. This can be translated to the fact that servant leaders assume complete responsibility for planning and managing all available resources for the benefit and wealth of the organization, their followers and stakeholders.

8. Foresight

Generally, things from the past, present and future are all connected. Servant leaders have the ability to envisage what is likely to happen in the future, from the information gathered about the past and present. This ability is helping servant leaders to plan ahead.

9. Community building

Alongside being able to create a clear vision about the future, servant leaders also have the ability to gather people together for a common purpose. They are able to create a feeling of being part of something bigger, they can also foster team spirit and a sense of community that they create.

10. Committed to growth of others

Servant leaders are interested and willing to help other’s development. These leaders are likely to help their followers to clearly set their career path and provide the necessary resources as well as guidance in order that they progress from one level to the next.