Servant leadership seeks to move management and personnel interaction away from “controlling activities” and toward a more synergistic relationship among parties. The term “servant leadership” was coined by Robert Greenleaf, a twentieth-century researcher who was skeptical about traditional leadership styles that focused on more authoritarian relationships between employers and employees.

According to Greenleaf’s observations, the servant leader approaches situations and organizations from the perspective of a servant first, looking to lend their presence to answer the needs of the organization and others. They seek to address wants and requirements as their priority, with leadership to be pursued secondarily. This contrasts with the leader-first perspective, wherein a person aims to gain control quickly often driven by the desire and prospects for material gain or influence.