When we talk about leadership, there’s no shortage of styles; Daniel Goleman outlines six — Visionary, Coaching, Affiliative, Democratic, Pacesetting, Commanding. But one style that I believe deserves more attention is Servant Leadership.
What Is Servant Leadership?
Servant leadership is a leadership style where the leader’s main focus is on meeting the needs of their team members, customers, and stakeholders.
In Agile, this mindset is foundational. Agile isn’t just about sticky notes and sprints—it’s about collaboration, trust, and delivering value. And that starts with how we lead.
Imagine flipping the org chart upside down. The leader is at the bottom, supporting the team. That’s servant leadership. It’s not about command and control, it’s about empowerment and support.
What Does It Look Like in Practice?
Listening: Ask your team what they need, and actually listen.
Removing Obstacles: Clear the path so they can focus on meaningful work.
Coaching: Trust your team to solve problems, but be there when they need you.
Emotional Intelligence: Value mental health as much as deadlines.
Why Does This Matter?
When we support the growth, well-being, and success of our people, business outcomes naturally follow. Supported people are more engaged, creative, and productive.
And let’s be real; people are burned out. Mental health struggles are high. If leaders focus only on the bottom line or the looming deadline, we risk losing our greatest asset – our people. When we lead with empathy and purpose, we unlock motivation and innovation.
Final Thought
Servant leadership isn’t always easy—especially if you’re used to having all the answers and being the “doer”. But when you shift your focus to serving others, you’ll see a change, not just in how your team works, but in how they feel about work.
So, I challenge you: How can you better serve the people you lead?
Thanks for reading, and leading!
About the Author
Sasha Pass, AIS, AINS, PMP, PMI-ACP
Sasha Pass is an IT Program Manager at Shelter Insurance with over a decade of experience leading teams to deliver business value with technology. Sasha is also a member of IAIP and currently serves as president of her local chapter, Insurance Professionals of Mid-Missouri.