Servant leadership, as a concept, draws heavily on other leadership styles with one significant difference. Servant leaders realize leadership is not about them. It's about what and who they are serving.

The model for servant leadership is none other than Jesus Christ. He embodied humility by denying Himself in order to serve His flock. His vision was as true as they come, expressed through his words, "No one shall come to the Father except through me." He lived to build the ultimate community, His church. He sought to empower His disciples to spread the good news far and wide, and He fully engaged Himself in everything He did.

Servant leadership has become popular in the business world as companies seek to do business based on moral principles and, in some cases, Christian values. The great leadership authors Ken Blanchard and Mark Miller wrote an excellent book on this concept called The Secret - What Great Leaders Know and Do. In the book, they use the acronym S.E.R.V.E. to teach the principles of servant leadership.

S See the Future

E Engage and Develop

R Reinvent Continuously

V Value Results and Relationships

E Embody the Values

It's appropriate that "embody the values" is the final tenet of Blanchard and Miller's servant leadership model. Their concept can be alternately described as, "leadership through character." Servant leaders build trust with their followers and that trust inspires action. They also bring their followers together, creating the interdependence and synergy that is so vital in problem solving. Servant leaders also exercise great listening skills that allow them to support their followers and remove obstacles from their paths to development, achievement and success. The result is an organization with service at its core.

Pastor Rick Warren, author of The Purpose-Driven Life, says "service is the pathway to significance." Although the pastor's heart is in the proper place, I'd caution against searching for significance as it's often a substitute for what people are really searching for, which I believe is value. Significance often fulfills our emotional need for validation, but when we are validated by the approval of others we engage in a dangerous proposition.

As a servant leader, you will face situations where an unpopular decision must be made because the outcome will ultimately serve the greater good. If you value the approval of others, will you make your choice based on principles or take the path of least resistance?

To truly become a servant leader requires something more than just studying the principles and applying them. Because this model is character-based, you must make sure your character is on full display. External influences like approval and money, to name a few, often play a big role in decision making. At crucial moments, you may feel like your character goes into hiding as outside pressures mount. This is a challenge many leaders face and it must be conquered in order to effectively put the principles of servant leadership to good use.

You can learn how to conquer those external influences - by acting from your rock solid base of character.