26 Feb 2025
4 minutes
Why I Recommend This: The Best Leaders Serve First
Leadership is often associated with authority, control, and decision-making power. But the most effective leaders are not the ones who demand the most—they are the ones who serve the most.
Simon Sinek’s Leaders Eat Last and James Hunter’s The Servant both reinforce a truth that separates good leaders from great ones: leadership is about service, trust, and building an environment where people thrive. It is not about titles or hierarchy but about creating a culture where employees feel safe, valued, and empowered to do their best work.
If you want to build a company culture that attracts, retains, and nurtures top talent, this is the leadership mindset you need.
The Problem: Why Most Work Cultures Feel Broken
Many workplaces suffer from poor leadership, even when managers mean well. The biggest problems stem from:
Leaders prioritise control over trust. Employees operate in fear rather than confidence.
Lack of emotional intelligence. Many leaders focus on results but neglect human connection.
Short-term decision-making. Leaders chase quick wins instead of building a sustainable culture.
Disengagement and burnout. Employees do not feel seen, heard, or valued.
A weak leadership culture leads to high turnover, low morale, and a disengaged workforce.
The Agitation: The Hidden Cost of Poor Leadership
Many leaders unknowingly damage their company culture because they:
Focus on performance metrics but ignore employee wellbeing.
Expect loyalty from employees but fail to invest in them.
Create a culture of pressure instead of empowerment.
Lead with authority rather than earning respect through service.
When people feel like they are just a cog in the machine, they stop bringing their best selves to work. Innovation suffers. Performance drops. Turnover increases.
The Intrigue: How Servant Leadership Changes Everything
The best leaders do not command from the top—they support from the bottom.
Simon Sinek’s ‘Leaders Eat Last’ explains that great leaders put their people first, fostering trust and loyalty.
James Hunter’s ‘The Servant’ shows how leadership is not about power, but about serving others so they can succeed.
Companies that embrace this mindset build loyal, engaged, and highly productive teams. Why? Because employees thrive in an environment where they feel safe, valued, and supported.
The Positive Future: What Happens When Leaders Serve First
Imagine working in a company where:
Employees feel safe to take risks and innovate. Mistakes are seen as learning opportunities, not punishable failures.
Trust flows through the organisation. People feel secure in their roles and supported by their leaders.
Collaboration replaces competition. Teams work together rather than against each other.
People stay for the long term. Retention increases because employees feel invested in the company’s mission and values.
This is what happens when leaders prioritise service over authority.
The Solution: Five Principles of Servant Leadership
1. Create Psychological Safety
People perform best when they feel safe.
Encourage open communication without fear of judgment.
Ensure employees know their voices matter.
Build a culture where asking for help is seen as a strength, not a weakness.
Example: A manager who actively listens and encourages honest feedback builds a team that is not afraid to share ideas.
2. Empower Decision-Making at Every Level
Micromanagement kills trust and creativity.
Give employees autonomy to make decisions.
Focus on guiding rather than controlling.
Trust your team to take ownership of their work.
Example: A company allowing employees to experiment with new ideas without needing endless approval fosters innovation.
3. Lead by Example
A leader’s behaviour sets the tone for the entire organisation.
Demonstrate humility, respect, and accountability.
Show that no task is beneath you.
Be transparent about challenges and share credit for successes.
Example: A CEO who joins frontline employees for a day to understand their daily struggles earns trust and respect.
4. Invest in People, Not Just Profits
People are not resources from which to extract value—they are the foundation of success.
Provide opportunities for growth and development.
Support work-life balance to prevent burnout.
Recognise and reward contributions in meaningful ways.
Example: A leader who offers mentorship and career development opportunities builds a loyal and engaged workforce.
5. Build a Culture of Service
When leadership is about service, the whole organisation follows.
Encourage employees to support one another.
Shift the focus from individual achievement to team success.
Make service a core value—not just in customer interactions, but internally.
Example: A company that celebrates teamwork rather than just individual performance fosters a stronger, more unified workforce.
Advanced Leadership Strategies for Building a Thriving Culture
Once the foundation of servant leadership is in place, take it to the next level with these strategies:
1. Foster a “We Over Me” Mentality
Move from an individualistic culture to a collaborative one.
Encourage cross-team collaboration.
Eliminate “siloed” thinking.
Create shared goals that unify departments.
2. Develop Future Leaders from Within
A strong culture builds future leaders, not just followers.
Implement leadership training programmes.
Identify and nurture high-potential employees.
Encourage mentorship at every level.
3. Align Culture with Mission and Values
Culture should not just be words on a wall but actively lived.
Reinforce values in hiring, onboarding, and daily operations.
Recognise and reward behaviours that reflect the company’s mission.
Hold leadership accountable to the same standards.
4. Handle Conflict with Integrity
A strong culture does not mean avoiding conflict but handling it well.
Approach conflict with curiosity, not judgment.
Mediate issues with fairness and transparency.
Turn challenges into opportunities for team growth.
5. Regularly Assess and Adapt
Culture is not a one-time initiative—it requires ongoing effort.
Conduct regular employee feedback surveys.
Adapt policies based on what actually works.
Ensure leaders continue learning and evolving.
Your Next Steps
To build a thriving company culture, leadership must be about service, trust, and empowerment.
Identify one leadership habit you can improve this week.
Empower one employee by giving them more ownership over a project.
Ask for honest feedback from your team on how leadership can better support them.
Implement one servant leadership principle into your daily interactions.
Lead by example—make service a core part of your leadership philosophy.
What is one way you can be a more empowering leader today?