On the Leader Fluent Podcast, we’re in a series on my book, Insanely Practical Leadership: 12 No-Nonsense Keys to Master the Art of Leading Yourself and Others. The book addresses a host of insanely practical skills, and it provides you and your team with the tools to apply the insights to your life and leadership. The book is now available on Amazon, Kindle, and other retailers. On today’s episode, you’ll get a taste of my chapter on, “How to Be a Servant Leader.” Be sure to order Insanely Practical Leadership today, and check out the Masterclass as well as the bonus content that goes with the book HERE.

Booker T. Washington was the first principle of the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, where he advocated for emancipated slaves and higher education for African Americans. Well, shortly after stepping into his role, Washington was walking by the home of a wealthy family when the lady of the house came outside and asked him to chop some wood. So, Washington rolled up his sleeves, chopped the wood, brought it into the house, and stacked the logs by the fireplace.

Later that day, a young girl told the wealthy woman that Washington was the principle of the Tuskegee Institute. When the woman heard this, she was embarrassed by her request and went to see Washington in his office the next morning. When she walked into his office, the woman apologized profusely. But Washington simply replied “It’s perfectly all right, Madam. Occasionally I enjoy a little manual labor. Besides, it’s always a delight to do something for a friend.”

The woman shook his hand and left his office, but she didn’t forget Washington’s gracious kindness. Instead, she persuaded her friends to join her in generously donating thousands of dollars to the Institute.

Booker T. Washington could have reminded this wealthy woman of his title and position. Instead, he chose the high road of servant leadership. So, what does a servant leader look like? Well, in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus contrasts the leadership of the Pharisees with that of servant leaders. And from his teaching, we discover seven choices we must make to become servant leaders.

1. Choose INTEGRITY Over DUPLICITY

The Pharisees were a religious group of leaders who came up with 613 laws they expected everyone to follow. The problem was, the Pharisees didn’t practice what they preached.

That’s why Jesus said, “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach” (Matthew 23:2-3).

Simply put, these religious leaders were masters in duplicity, and as a result, leadership became nothing more than a stage to act like somebody they weren’t. A duplicitous leader is double-minded, but a servant leader leads with integrity.

2. Choose PEOPLE Over POWER

Jesus continued his description of the Pharisees in Matthew 23:4 when he said, “They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.” These leaders put power before people. They used their man-made rules like whips to beat people into submission.

But Jesus had a different approach. In fact, He once told his disciples, “You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around, how quickly a little power goes to their heads. It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant” (Matthew 20:25-26 MSG)

3. Choose SILENCE Over SHOW

The Pharisees constantly tried to project an image of importance. In Matthew 23:5, Jesus said, “Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels.”

But instead of “Show,” Jesus chose “Silence.” In fact, when he healed a deaf man and a man with leprosy, he told both of them not to tell anyone. Why? Because at its core, choosing “silence over show” is all about motives. And for a servant leader, the motive is to serve people for their good and God’s glory.

4. Choose GIVING Over GETTING

It’s always nice when you receive an unexpected perk or privilege, whether it’s an upgrade on a flight or a free dessert on your birthday at your favorite restaurant. But the Pharisees didn’t treat perks like unsought blessings. Instead, they expected preferential treatment. That’s why Jesus said, “And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues.” Perks were the Pharisees priority.

Perks aren’t necessarily bad, unless of course we adopt an attitude that says, “I deserve the perks, and I’m entitled to the perks.” When that happens, we become consumed with GETTING OVER GIVING. But Jesus calls us to a different posture—one of GIVING OVER GETTING.

5. Choose TOWELS Over TITLES

In the Gospel of John chapter 13, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. What’s ironic about this act is that Jesus had the HIGHEST AUTHORITY, but He assumed the LOWEST POSITION. And then he told his disciples to do the same.

But the Pharisees had a different approach. Jesus said, “They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’” The title “rabbi” means “my great one,” and the Pharisees savored their titles but shunned the towel. In other words, greatness—quite literally—was defined by the title these religious leaders held.

6. Choose HUMILITY Over HUBRIS

Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 23:11-12, “The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” So, if you want to be a servant leader, choose humility over hubris.

7. Choose SACRIFICE Over SECURITY

In Matthew 20:28, Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Simply put, Jesus expected to make sacrifices. He even chose to sacrifice his very life at the cross.

Elizabeth once said, “The best way to find out whether you really have a servant’s heart is to see what your reaction is when somebody treats you like one.” Let’s all follow Jesus’ example. Let’s all make the seven choices to become servant leaders.

LEARN MORE ABOUT INSANELY PRACTICAL LEADERSHIP:

The teaching in this podcast series comes from my book, Insanely Practical Leadership: 12 No-Nonsense Keys to Master the Art of Leading Yourself and Others. Get your copy of the book, masterclass, and study guide to maximize your leadership and to invest in the growth of your team. You can learn more about Insanely Practical Leadership and the bonus content that goes with the book HERE. You can also order the book on