RobertK.Greenleaf於1970 年代提出服務式領導，又譯為僕人式領導(Servant Leadership)的觀念，這個概念始於德國詩人作家赫曼．赫塞(Hermann Hesse)著作的「東方之旅」一書，書中闡述著一次世界大戰後，人們心中所渴望的世界，旅程的行李中存放的是愛、價值及融入團隊中的信念與力量，從個人的完美主義到獻給團體的崇高服務精神，這段生之追尋的心路歷程，激發了Greenleaf畢生推動以服務為精神的僕人式領導。
僕人式領導是以服務追隨者(followers)為首要；藉著開放性的溝通、內在價值的分享、自然地傳遞給追隨者，其理念來自於對個人的自覺，是一種對自己的深度認知。自覺不是一種天賦，是一種可學習的深度內省過程，是可逐漸養成的一種能力。對自己的優劣勢、人生價值與動機的覺察，必須經過極度自省的過程，也需擁有對他人反饋的能力。
自Greenleaf之後的30年間，許多學者開始研究「僕人式領導」，也建立出各種僕人式領導的行為模式，並歸納出僕人式領導的特質。Greenleaf更成立僕人式領導中心(Center for Servant Leadership)結合多位學者專家長期投入僕人式領導理論的研究，國內也有相關的研究成果。
僕人式領導的十個特質：聆聽、同理心、醫治、醒覺、說服、概念化、遠見、管家、委身於他人的成長、建立社群。Russell & Stone (2002)提出的僕人式領導的功能與伴隨特徵；Patterson(2003)提出僕人式領導是德行與價值觀的表現。這些特質、德性與價值觀的表現，皆是可以透過培養與孕育的，因此，本課程希望能培育青年學子：
(一)認識威權以及威信：威權是買賣，能夠買賣的東西，能夠得到也會失去；而威信是一種技能，是運用個人影響力，讓別人心甘情願地照著你的意願行事。成功領導者能讓自己產生威信，並以德服人。
(二)透析慾望與需要：從美國行為科學家馬斯洛需要層次理論來認識人性的需求，領導者應能滿足各層次的心理欲求，達到喚醒、說服追隨者看見自己內在的需求，並幫助其增強成長的動機與力量。
(三)了解愛的真義：愛是推己及人，找尋出別人的需求；同時，也為了滿足別人所需而努力。〈聖經：哥林多前書〉第十三章「愛的箴言」中，愛的「八大特質」包括：愛是忍耐、恩慈、謙卑、尊重、無私、寬恕、誠實、守信。領導者應該對此八大特質有深入的體悟與實踐。
(四)學習領導的要義：領導最重要的是激勵別人，讓他們把事情做好。領導可以影響人們願意，甚至是熱誠地奉獻自己的心力、創造力，以及其他可能影響到彼此之間共同目標的資源，領導就是要讓人們願意對團體的使命擁有責任感。
美國著名的管理學大師 Covey（2011）指出:「有能力決定自己的生活、在人際關係、家庭中當個領導人，也就是成為自己個人世界中的一股積極而有創意的力量。」因此，個人的性格其實就是個人每一個習慣的總和。想要成為一位以「僕人精神」為本質的領導人，必須具備極強的動機、有舉一反三的反思（reflection）能力，以及經常的練習，最重要的是有意願及動機想要改變自己、追求成長。凡事都要養成意會（Sense-Making）的習慣，只有將自己的學習經驗、知識及體會融入每天的生活中，潛移默化，才有可能成為一個能影響他人的成功領導人。

Robert K. Greenleaf proposed the concept of servant leadership, also translated as Servant Leadership, in the 1970s. This concept originated from the German poet and writer Hermann. The book "Journey to the East" written by Hermann Hesse explains the world that people longed for after World War I. The luggage of the journey contains love, value, and the belief and strength to integrate into the team. From personal perfectionism to the lofty spirit of service dedicated to the group, this journey of pursuit inspired Greenleaf to promote servant leadership with a service-oriented spirit throughout his life.
Servant leadership puts serving followers first; through open communication and sharing of intrinsic values, it is naturally passed on to followers. Its concept comes from personal awareness and is a deep understanding of oneself. Self-consciousness is not a talent, but a learnable process of deep introspection, and an ability that can be gradually developed. Awareness of one's own strengths and weaknesses, life values ​​and motivations must go through a process of extreme introspection, as well as the ability to give feedback to others.
In the 30 years since Greenleaf, many scholars have begun to study "servant leadership", established various servant leadership behavioral models, and summarized the characteristics of servant leadership. Greenleaf has also established the Center for Servant Leadership to combine the long-term research of many scholars and experts on servant leadership theory, and there are also related research results in China.
The ten qualities of servant leadership: listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, visioning, stewardship, commitment to the growth of others, and building community. Russell & Stone (2002) proposed the functions and accompanying characteristics of servant leadership; Patterson (2003) proposed that servant leadership is a manifestation of virtues and values. The expression of these characteristics, virtues and values ​​can all be cultivated and nurtured. Therefore, this course hopes to cultivate young students:
(1) Understand authority and prestige: Authority is buying and selling, and what can be bought and sold can be gained or lost; and prestige is a skill, which is the use of personal influence to make others willingly act according to your wishes. Successful leaders can generate prestige for themselves and convince others with their virtue.
(2) Analyze desires and needs: Understand the needs of human nature from the hierarchy of needs theory of American behavioral scientist Maslow. Leaders should be able to satisfy psychological desires at all levels, awaken and persuade followers to see their inner needs, and help them enhance their motivation and strength for growth.
(3) Understand the true meaning of love: Love is looking out for others and seeking out the needs of others; at the same time, it also works hard to meet the needs of others. Chapter 13 "Proverbs of Love", the "eight characteristics" of love include: love is patience, kindness, humility, respect, selflessness, forgiveness, honesty, and trustworthiness. Leaders should have a deep understanding and practice of these eight characteristics.
(4) Learn the essence of leadership: The most important thing about leadership is to motivate others and let them do things well. Leadership can influence people to be willing, even enthusiastic, to dedicate their time, creativity, and other resources that may affect each other's common goals. Leadership is to make people willing to take responsibility for the mission of the group.
The famous American management guru Covey (2011) pointed out: "Having the ability to decide your own life and be a leader in interpersonal relationships and families is to become a positive and creative force in your own personal world." Therefore, an individual's personality is actually the sum of every habit of an individual. If you want to become a leader with a "servant spirit" as your essence, you must have strong motivation, the ability to reflect from one example to another, and regular practice. The most important thing is to have the will and motivation to change yourself and pursue growth. You must develop the habit of Sense-Making in everything. Only by integrating your learning experience, knowledge and understanding into your daily life and subtly influencing others can you become a successful leader who can influence others.

1. 僕人-修練與實踐，作者：James C. Hunter，商周出版社，2005

1. Servant - Training and Practice, author: James C. Hunter, Shang and Zhou Publishing House, 2005