Leader as Teacher
A great leader acts as a teacher by creating space for learning and focusing on the growth of others, embodying the servant leader philosophy of Robert Greenleaf.
THE IDEA
LEADER AS TEACHER
A great teacher is someone around whom others learn. Great teachers create space for learning and invite people into that space. By contrast, less-masterful teachers focus on what they are teaching and how they are doing it. The spirit of the leader as a grower of people was beautifully articulated by Robert Greenleaf, who after a career working with many talented leaders at AT&T from the mid-1920s to the mid-1960s, identified the desire to serve as the core motivation for great leaders, and the growth of people as the chief indicator of such leaders, whom he called “servant leaders.” “The best test [of the servant leader] is: Do those served grow as persons? Do they become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants?”6
When to use it
A manager holds regular one-on-one meetings focused on development rather than task updates.
A teacher designs a curriculum that empowers students to explore topics of interest and share their findings.
A team leader encourages peer learning and knowledge sharing through structured workshops.
A mentor asks reflective questions to help a mentee discover their own insights rather than providing direct advice.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
CEO Mentorship Program
A CEO regularly schedules time to mentor junior employees, asking open-ended questions and providing guidance rather than direct answers. This creates a learning environment where employees feel empowered to develop their own solutions.
Flipped Classroom Approach
A teacher uses a flipped classroom model, where students watch lectures at home and engage in problem-solving activities in class. The teacher acts as a facilitator, guiding discussions and encouraging peer learning.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
How can you create space for learning in your organization or classroom?
In what ways are you focusing on the growth of those you lead, rather than just their performance?
How does the concept of servant leadership apply to your current role and responsibilities?
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- The Fifth Discipline The Art Practice of the Learning Organization (Peter M. Senge)