By Maria-Pia Negro Chin | Catholic News Service

From childhood, young people are constantly told that they are the leaders of the future. A good leader can foster a spirit of collaborative teamwork that delivers positive results. That is why many youth ministers promote servant leadership.

The term "servant leadership" was coined in the 1970s by Robert Greenleaf, who proposed that a true leader is a servant first. He said that while traditional leadership styles accumulate power at the top, servant leadership puts other people's needs first and shares power with them. In his writings, which have been translated into dozens of languages, Greenleaf argued that leadership comes from a desire to humbly serve that is centered in ethics and values.

Jesus' words in the New Testament emphasized this principle of service to others: "You know that the rulers of the gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant" (Mt 20:25-27).

A true leader is not a dictator who tries to impose compliance but is a team member who works tirelessly and convinces others to reach a consensus. Leaders also appreciate a diversity of opinions and listen to others with openness. Their teams are effective because they are built on mutual respect, appreciation and trust.

A decade ago, the Diocese of Davenport, Iowa, conducted a study into the role of servant leadership in fostering high-performing parishes. The results, published in a series of articles in The Catholic Messenger, suggested that "if leaders become servants and act with kindness, involve people in decision-making, call forth the gifts and talents of their members and express their appreciation, the people will respond by helping, initiating, participating and seeking self-development."

Some famous servant leaders include Martin Luther King Jr., Dorothy Day, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Wendy Kopp, among others. In writing for Catholic organizations, I have encountered people from all ages whose desire to serve others inspired them to become leaders who tirelessly work alongside others to create positive change.

Claire Burns, a Catholic businesswoman from Brisbane, Australia, recently wrote for The Catholic Leader newspaper that servant leadership is moving outside of religious and altruistic institutions into mainstream business. "Authentic leaders have high levels of awareness and high values as well as confidence, hope, optimism and resilience," she said. The path to servant leadership, she said, "comes from a desire to serve others -- not a desire for ego and remuneration."

Larry C. Spears wrote in The Journal of Virtues and Leadership that there are 10 key characteristics of a servant leader: listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to others and building community.

Jesus washing the disciple's feet and being with the people is an example of humility and servant leadership. And that is another aspect of servant leadership: Leaders do what they preach and act with honesty and integrity. A credible servant leader is also humble and confident in empowering others to make decisions. Team members reciprocate this attitude and act with kindness, seeking to serve others' needs before their own.

A servant leader supports and empowers the team, communicates an organization's vision and goals with clarity, and fosters collaboration instead of competition. A true leader knows God has given us all different talents and works with teammates to harness their gifts and accomplish their goals for the good of others.

By seeking to become a servant leader who sees your role as a position of responsibility that is other-centered, you can be the example of authentic leadership the world needs.

Maria-Pia Negro Chin is bilingual associate editor at Maryknoll Magazine.