One of the most misunderstood facets of leadership is "the servant hood principle". Simply stated, the greatest leader is one that humbles himself, serving others willingly and unselfishly. But how can that be? Most think that the leader is the "bigger than life" giant, demanding respect, oozing with confidence, and expecting to be served. If you understand the heart of servant focused leadership, then you will understand that the true character behind it lies in selflessness instead of selfishness; the servant instead of the served. The true servant leader must be completely transparent with nothing to prove, nothing to lose, and nothing to hide.

The first transparency of the servant leader is that they have nothing to prove. The actions of a real leader always speak louder than their words. They never rely on titles or promotion levels to exercise authority or command. Since titles mean nothing to the servant leader, they do not play the proverbial "promotion games" to get ahead. Backstabbing is not permitted and productivity demands recognition. The servant leader is so transparent that they allow the light of their team to shine brightest, giving the team credit for victory instead of taking it themselves. Success for the servant leader has nothing to do with their own advancement, but rests entirely on the advancement of leaders within their team. Oddly, the servant leader dreams of, rather than fears, replacement.

The second transparency of the servant leader is that they have nothing to lose. For the average leader, fear of loss dictates many decisions and resulting actions; loss of the sale, loss of title, loss of employees, loss of income, and most especially the loss of popularity and future promotions. They are constantly concerned about what other people think. The servant leader on the other hand is more concerned about thinking of others. They are not concerned about losing their popularity because their giving attitudes and actions automatically preserve it. The servant leader knows that giving and not getting provides leadership security and ultimately protects their reputation.

The third and final transparency of the servant leader is that they have nothing to hide. They live in a glass house, the lights are always on, and the cameras are always rolling. The servant leader does not need a public relations staff to maintain, protect, or build their public image. They are not perfect and they make mistakes, but they willingly admit them, correct them, and press on. Their authenticity and vulnerability lend credibility to their human-ness. This perhaps is what compels others to respect them most. Instead of wallowing in self pity, the servant leader uses weakness as a reason to become strong. They transform their vulnerability into an impenetrable shield of confidence. They lead through tough times using attitudes of caring, love, and hope. Because of their transparency, these attitudes become infective transforming all those that follow.