Describes the characteristics and activities of servant-leaders, providing examples which show that individual efforts, inspired by vision and a servant ethic, can make a substantial difference in the quality of society. Greenleaf discusses the skills necessary to be a servant-leader, the importance of awareness, foresight and listening, and the contrasts between coercive, manipulative, and persuasive power.

"This essay was originally published in 1970 by Robert K. Greenleaf"-- [p. ii].