What is Servant Leadership in Nursing? (PLUS, Pros VS. Cons, Characteristics, & How to Become)


Written By: Darby FaubionDarby Faubion RN, BSN, MBA

Darby Faubion is a nurse and allied health instructor with over 20 years of clinical experience. Darby lives in Louisiana and loves exploring the state’s rich culture and history. Darby has a passion for caring for veterans and a special interest in those affected by post-traumatic stress disorder. In her quest to make a difference for veterans, she founded a non-profit called “Operation Battle Buddy.” Read Full Bio »»
RN, BSN, MBA


Are you a nurse with a passion for building strong teams of nurses? Have you considered becoming a nurse leader and wonder which type of leadership style is best suited for you? One leadership style that many nurses embrace is servant leadership in nursing.

Maybe you have heard of this type of nursing leadership and question, “Who can explain to me, what is servant leadership in nursing?” In this article, I will not only explain this leadership concept but will also share some principles and characteristics of leaders who practice this type of leadership style.



What is Servant Leadership in Nursing?


Servant leadership in nursing is a leadership style focused on encouraging, empowering, and uplifting teams. Servant leaders are concerned about the needs of their staff and look for ways to promote their success. This type of leadership style prioritizes the needs of each team member as well as the patients and organizations they serve.



3 Main Pros of Servant Leadership in Nursing


No matter what type of leadership style you feel suits you, there are pros and cons to consider. Knowing the advantages and disadvantages can help you prepare for ways to address challenges as they arise and build stronger teams. The list below includes three of the main pros of servant leadership in nursing.

Pro #1: Servant Leadership Promotes Personal and Professional Growth

Something I believe is profoundly important is to work with people who inspire you to become better in every way possible. The servant leadership style in nursing is an excellent example of how that happens. Servant nurse leaders understand that as their team members grow and reach a higher potential, they are happier, which boosts team morale. Not only does this type of leadership help promote good vibes within the team, but it also creates an atmosphere conducive to personal and professional growth where team members feel supported in their endeavors to achieve bigger goals, such as earning a higher degree or developing into leadership roles of their own.

Pro #2: Servant Leadership in Nursing Leads to Better Job Performance

Another thing I love about servant leadership is that the leader takes an active role in making sure the team works cohesively. The servant leader in nursing gets to know each team member, encourages them individually and as a group, and learns how to leverage each person’s strengths to better the team. As a result, teams have better job performance, which benefits patients, the nursing team, the organization/facility where they work, and the profession of nursing.

Pro #3: When Servant Leadership in Nursing Is Used, There Is Less Turnover

Servant leaders in nursing are known to inspire loyalty and promote a sense of purpose for their team members. Because servant leaders focus on the good of the team, providing opportunities for growth and development and celebrating achievements, employees who work with this type of leader have a lower rate of turnover.



3 Main Cons of Servant Leadership in Nursing


In my experience, there is nothing that compares to taking on the role of a servant leader in nursing. However, despite the advantages of this type of leadership, there are some disadvantages to consider. Weighing the pros and cons and approaching possible issues with this type of leadership is crucial if you want to build a strong team. The following are three main cons of servant leadership in nursing.

Con #1: There Can Be a Lack of Respect for, or Recognition of, Authority

While servant leadership in nursing is an excellent type of leadership, unless the leader maintains a healthy balance between their servant-minded approach and the need to direct with authority, it can lead to problems. I do not believe this happens intentionally on anyone’s part. However, because servant leadership involves getting on a personal level with teams, it is easy for some team members to lose sight of the fact that the leader is the authority figure in the group.

Con #2: It Takes Time to Build Strong Relationships

As great a concept as servant leadership in nursing is, one of the main disadvantages is that this leadership style requires building solid relationships, and that takes time. While there is nothing wrong with taking time to build relationships with your team, work must go on, which means you must exercise authority and decision-making while trying to incorporate the servant leadership style in nursing.

Con #3: Some Team Members Feel Overwhelmed

One of the factors to consider when implementing a servant leadership style in nursing is that not all leaders embrace this type of leadership. If you have team members who have worked with leaders who utilize different leadership styles in nursing, such as bureaucratic leadership or autocratic leadership, they may feel overwhelmed by the increased autonomy you offer. It is important to realize that each member has strengths, and when you learn those, you can help your team utilize their strengths and grow.



7 Main Characteristics of a Servant Leader


Every leader has characteristics they demonstrate in their roles. While there are many characteristics associated with servant leadership in nursing, the following are seven of the main characteristics of servant nurse leaders.

Characteristic #1: Respect

Many years ago, I worked with a doctor who was difficult, to say the least. I will always remember one day in the clinic, I overheard him tell a patient, "I am the doctor, and you will respect what I say or find someone else to take care of you." I was stunned at his outburst. Needless to say, the patient found another doctor, and I do not blame them.

Respect in leadership does not just mean your team should respect you. The servant leadership style in nursing acknowledges that strong teams are built by leaders who treat their teams with respect. As a result, the respect is then reciprocated. Good nursing leaders value the thoughts, opinions, and feedback of their team members and respect the knowledge, skills, and experience each member brings to the team.


Characteristic #2: Stewardship

Although there are many characteristics of servant leadership in nursing, one that I believe is of utmost importance is stewardship. Stewardship is truly the core value of all good leaders. Being a good steward simply means being faithful to or accountable for the things entrusted to your care.

As a servant leader, you can demonstrate stewardship by first taking accountability for yourself and your actions. Then, you must take responsibility for your team members and the organization you represent. Of course, you cannot control others’ actions, but you can lead by example and show strong leadership by modeling accountability.

Practicing stewardship means taking on the role of a caregiver or nurturer instead of one of dominance. Just because you practice stewardship does not mean you are not a leader; it is simply a different approach to leadership. When you approach leadership with a stewardship attitude, your team members are more likely to come to you for advice and direction, which is part of what leadership is all about.


Characteristic #3: Trust

Just like respect is a two-way street, trust is as well. Your team needs to know they can trust you to do what is morally and ethically right and that you will advocate for them when needed. While having a team that trusts you is important, it is equally important to show your team you trust them. You can demonstrate trust as a servant leader in nursing by including your team in decision-making processes and encouraging autonomy within their scope of practice. Get your team involved by having them set personal and team goals and define reasonable expectations and outcomes.


Characteristic #4: Self-Awareness

An important characteristic of the servant leadership style in nursing is when you show self-awareness. Reflecting on your personal actions and motivations and working to understand how they impact others is essential in servant leadership. Self-awareness involves continuously seeking self-improvement, which motivates others to do the same.


Characteristic #5: Flexibility

Have you ever worked with a boss who had the attitude that it was their way or no way at all? It can be discouraging, to say the least. I worked with a nurse years ago who was the supervising nurse in a large outpatient care center. The center housed several outpatient specialty clinics.

He was a very intelligent nurse and was very good with patients. However, when it came to running the clinics, he wanted things done his way. He rarely asked the opinions of staff nurses or asked for input about matters that affected the nursing staff. As a result, the clinic had a huge turnover rate. Unfortunately, despite upper management's efforts to help him develop as a leader, their differing opinions clashed, and he moved on to a job elsewhere.

Any good leader knows that we cannot have everything our way all the time. A servant leader in nursing understands that it is possible to maintain ownership of your actions and your team and utilize authority to manage your team while still being flexible enough that others are comfortable working with you.


Characteristic #6: Empathy

A crucial characteristic of servant leaders is empathy. When you demonstrate empathy, you show genuine care and concern for your team on both professional and personal levels. Empathizing with your team helps you identify times when they are happy and satisfied, which can impact their job performance.

As an empathetic servant leader, you can approach your team with an open mind, showing appreciation for each member's perspectives. In so doing, you reflect an attitude that shows your team members that they are a priority.


Characteristic #7: Resilience

Being a servant leader does not mean being a pushover. Leaders must often make decisions that not everyone agrees with. You can demonstrate all the excellent characteristics of a servant leader in nursing such as patience, empathy, trust, optimism, focus, and all the other characteristics listed above without compromising the important things. A resilient servant leader focuses on the main goals and expected outcomes by avoiding distractions and not becoming offended when differences of opinion arise.



How to Become a Successful Servant Leader in Nursing?


Becoming a successful leader takes time and dedication. It also takes a willingness to work closely with the teams you hope to lead. The following are seven crucial steps to help you become successful in implementing a servant leadership style in nursing.


Step #1: Practice Active Listening

One of the best ways to show servant leadership in nursing is to actively listen to your team members. When you actively listen to your team, they feel their thoughts and ideas are important and valued. Employees who feel like they are truly heard are more likely to talk openly about concerns or problems. Also, active listening is an excellent way for you to identify growth opportunities within your team.


Step #2: Conceptualize

The ability to conceptualize means that, instead of looking at small day-to-day tasks or operations, you consider larger goals and plan ways to accomplish them. To become an effective servant leader, you must learn to understand the diverse, broader context of your organization and its needs. Conceptualization involves identifying patterns, principles, and connections that make up and impact your organization, and it allows you to anticipate possible challenges and plan to address them effectively.


Step #3: Lead by Example

One of the most effective ways to demonstrate servant leadership is to lead by example. An effective servant leader in nursing is willing to do any job or task they would ask someone on their team to do. Keep in mind that just because you can do a job or are even willing to do one, that does not mean you must shoulder all the responsibility for your team alone. Leading by example is simply showing a willingness to work together with your team to get things done instead of dictating to them whilst you watch from the sidelines, so to speak.

For example, one of my first jobs as a nurse was at a nursing home. I worked the night shift, which meant we only had a small staff. There was me, a few nursing assistants, and one housekeeper who worked that shift. I always felt like I needed to take on more responsibility by doing some of the CNAs' jobs or gathering linens and other items for the housekeeper. My willingness to help, even when I did not have to, created an atmosphere of mutual respect between me and the other staff.


Step #4: Help Your Team Members Realize Their Potential

A true servant leader in nursing understands a leader is not stronger or more capable than the collective strengths and abilities of their team. Therefore, a crucial step in becoming a good servant leader is to help your team members realize their potential by supporting and promoting their professional growth and development.

Be supportive of your team members' thoughts and ideas. Encourage them to take on active leadership roles in team meetings or group projects. Also, be supportive of their dreams of broadening their education and encourage their participation in employee development and continuing education opportunities.


Step #5: Address Conflicts as Soon as They Occur

Servant leadership in nursing involves having a willingness to promote an environment that supports emotional and mental well-being. One way to accomplish this is to remain aware of issues affecting your team and address any conflicts as soon as possible. By addressing conflicts with a professional, encouraging attitude, you create a positive workplace culture, which promotes better organizational outcomes.


Step #6: Encourage Collaboration

Having worked in leadership roles, I understand how easy it can be to want to make decisions just to get a job done. It isn’t that I did not care about team members or that their experience or insight was not valuable. Sometimes, as leaders, though, we get so bogged down with all the things that need to be done that it seems easier to just make decisions and move on.

I learned that being a servant leader in nursing meant more than making decisions and passing along guidelines or instructions to others. Instead, to be an effective leader, I learned to encourage collaboration between myself and my team members as well as interdisciplinary and cross-departmental professionals.

When you encourage collaboration, it lets your team know you value their opinions and respect their experiences. When your team feels free to share ideas through collaboration, it is easier to get them involved in prioritizing tasks and setting goals. Then, as the leader, you can make your expectations clear and help everyone get involved and stay on task.


Step #7: Promote a Strong Sense of Community

Depending on the size of your team or organization and the backgrounds and roles of each team member, it can be difficult to build a sense of community. However, servant leaders in nursing understand the importance of embracing diversity among team members and promoting a sense of community. You can help build this sense of community by supporting activities that forge connections within your team as well as connections between your team and the people you serve. You can initiate activities such as social events, luncheons, or meet and greet sessions where no work-related issues are on the agenda to promote connections and help build bonds within your team.


My Final Thoughts


If you are a nurse leader or hope to become a leader in nursing, finding the style of leadership that works best for you is important. You may have found this article after discovering there are many types of leadership styles, but you found servant leadership in nursing interesting. In this article, I shared information to answer the question, “What is servant leadership in nursing?”

As a nurse and healthcare educator, and having worked in leadership roles, I believe embracing every opportunity to learn and grow in leadership is essential to building strong teams. Whether you choose to follow one leadership style or implement characteristics of several styles, I encourage you to have faith in yourself and your teams and never stop growing and learning. Your teams will follow your example; so, be the best you can be!



List Of Sources Used For This Article


1. “Why Servant Leadership Reduces Employee Turnover Rates” (Berrett-Koehler Publishers)
2. “8 Types of Leadership Styles in Nursing- Which One is Right for You?” (nursingprocess.org)
3. “What Is Stewardship, and Should All Great Leaders Practice It?” (The New York Times in Education)
4. “11 Ways to Improve Employee Development” (indeed.com)
5. “How to Be a Servant Leader (7 Steps)” (Business Leadership Today)


Darby Faubion, RN, BSN, MBA
Darby Faubion is a nurse and allied health instructor with over 20 years of clinical experience. Her work history includes clinical experience in pediatrics, mental health, addiction and behavioral disorders, geriatrics, wound management, and communicable disease. Darby has worked in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home health and hospice agencies. Darby also has experience as a nursing and allied health educator at both community college and university levels. Her love for nursing and nursing education led to her becoming a test-taking strategist and NCLEX prep coach.