Demonstrating Servant Leadership During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Servant leadership (SL) is an especially effective leadership style for healthcare. This article relays characteristics, attributes, and essential behaviors of SL. Jesus Christ demonstrated SL by inverting the traditional leadership triangle of leader at the top. Servant leadership promotes a culture of openness, transparency, empowerment, and sharing of ownership. The servant leader values listening, developing, encouraging, building collaboration, and maintaining personal relationships, while displaying authenticity, openness, accountability, and willingness to learn. The experience of a staff nurse functioning as a servant leader for patients and colleagues during the COVID-19 pandemic elaborates how SL can be evidenced in bedside care.