In this edition of the Managerial Excellence Masterclasses, we had the honor of welcoming Vincent Giolito, professor at EM Lyon and management expert, to explore a central topic in today’s world: Servant Leadership. Inspired by Robert Greenleaf’s 1970 essay, this approach questions the leader’s role in an organization. Giolito asks a simple but profound question: is Servant Leadership a utopia or a real opportunity for modern businesses?
What is Servant Leadership?
Servant Leadership distinguishes itself from other management models by its fundamental premise: the leader must above all focus on the growth and development of their employees, and not solely on the company’s performance or financial objectives. As Vincent Giolito explains, this approach is based on several key dimensions:
- Putting people first: The leader’s primary role is to help their employees grow, succeed, and develop both personally and professionally.
- Granting autonomy: Autonomy and empowerment are at the heart of the model. Employees must be able to make decisions and feel responsible for their actions.
- Considering emotions: Unlike traditional models that minimize the importance of emotions in business, Servant Leadership pays great attention to feelings, recognizing their impact on collective performance.
- Making ethical decisions: The leader must be able to make decisions that adhere to ethical standards, ensuring that employee well-being comes first.
A Model Far from Utopian
Servant Leadership is not synonymous with naïve kindness. As Vincent reminds us, it is not a model where everyone is complacent and seeks to avoid conflict. It is a demanding model where the leader must make difficult decisions, but always with the aim of serving the common good and helping people grow. This model fosters strong team cohesion and a positive company culture.
Serving First: a Viable Approach?
A crucial question addressed in this masterclass is the viability of Servant Leadership in a competitive environment. Some might consider this model too “soft” for market realities. However, Giolito presents study results showing that organizations adopting this model often see an increase in productivity, better employee engagement, and a reduction in turnover.
He also specifies that Servant Leadership is particularly effective during times of crisis, as it allows teams to collaborate more harmoniously and mobilize all their energies to find solutions together.
A Model for all Leaders?
Giolito concludes by emphasizing that Servant Leadership is not suitable for all situations or all types of organizations. However, in companies where team cohesion, ethics, and individual growth are valued, it represents a real opportunity to transform the way of leading.
Servant Leadership is therefore much more than a simple managerial utopia: it offers a new path to reconcile performance and humanity in leadership.
Don’t miss the next Masterclass!