Servant Leadership: Still Important….. But Often Overused

“Servant leadership” has become a buzzword. Many leaders say they practice it, but few truly live it.

In its purest form, servant leadership flips the traditional leadership model upside down. Instead of people working to serve the leader, the leader works to serve their people. In a dealership environment, where culture, communication, and connection directly impact customer experience, this leadership style is critical.

True servant leadership must be proven.

You’re not a servant leader if you:

• Micromanage your team.
• Avoid accountability.
• Talk about empowerment but never actually give people authority.
• Seek praise for “serving” when the real goal is recognition.

You are a servant leader if you:

• Build trust through consistency and fairness.
• Develop people rather than controlling them.
• Inspire performance through respect, not intimidation.
• Drive results by helping others reach their full potential.

We believe that leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about impact.