Servant LeadershipHuman Resource Management, Spring 2010IntroductionIn the first major article on stakeholder theory, Edward Freeman and David Reed state that a stakeholder is "Any identifiable group or individual on whom the organization depends for its continued survival." (Freeman and Reed 89) Since the contributions of these groups are a vital part of an organization's success, creating solutions that benefit all stakeholders is important for long-term success. Solutions that conflict with the interests of one stakeholder could lead the stakeholder to withdraw the support the organization needs to survive. When an organization's leaders are servants first, when they "ensure that the highest priority needs of others are met" (Greenleaf, "The Servant as leader" 3), then the organization's stakeholders will be invested in the continued success of the organization and as a result will be more likely to give it their support. Servant Leadership TheoryAfter reading Journey to the East, Robert Greenleaf was struck by how one of the main characters, a man named Leo, functioned in the book as both a servant and a leader (2) . Leo was a servant by nature and by excelling in this role he became a leader (2). An idea emerged from the reading for Greenleaf, which is that the most effective leaders are those who enable others and help them grow (6). Greenleaf believed that organizations would only be successful in the future if they focused on training their people and growing them, which is why servant leadership would be increasingly important (3). There are 11 main traits of servant leadership: The leader has a calling, has empathy, listens, works to heal, is aware, is persuasive, has a... middle of paper... are largely interested in direction corporate and sustainable profits (Kenneth). With the support of all stakeholders, the company will have a solid foundation. Satisfied employees should contribute to skill concentration and low replacement costs. Ultimately, the focus on growth and foresight should help the company grow to be even more successful in the future. Communities Communities benefit from servant leadership in two main ways. First, servant leadership promotes community and actively seeks to improve the community in which it operates (The Power of Servant Leadership, 9). Second, servant leadership focuses on the growth of people within the organization, and because those members of the organization are members of the larger community, it also benefits indirectly. By focusing on servant leadership, a company can meet the needs of all stakeholders..