In my years of backing hundreds of entrepreneurs, I’ve watched three distinct leadership styles build billion-dollar companies. Today, let me tell you about the one that surprised me most.
The servant leader doesn’t lead from the front. They clear obstacles from behind.
I invested in a SaaS company where the CEO spent most of his time asking one question: “What do you need from me?” Not directing. Not commanding. Just removing friction so her people could do their best work.
When the sales team hit a roadblock with enterprise clients, he didn’t lecture them about closing techniques. He rolled up his sleeves and sat in on calls. When engineering felt overwhelmed by feature requests, he didn’t push harder deadlines. He helped prioritize and pushed back on unrealistic demands from the board.
Revenue grew 400% in 18 months.
[Email readers, continue here…] The servant leader understands something most executives miss: your job isn’t to be the smartest person in the room. It’s to make everyone else smarter.
They build loyalty not through authority, but through service. Teams run through walls for leaders who consistently put their needs first.
The downside? This style takes longer to see results. You’re building deep roots, not quick wins. And some investors mistake servant leadership for weakness—until they see the numbers.
But when it works, it creates something rare: a company that doesn’t fall apart when the leader goes on vacation.
Are you leading from behind, or just hiding back there?
Right on!