Here's how you can evaluate servant leadership qualities through common interview questions.

The "Empathy Probe" in the context of Servant Leadership refers to the ability and practice to show empathy within a leadership role. A servant leader actively listens, shows compassion and promotes a working environment in which employees feel valued and can fully develop their potential. Empathy in this context means that the manager puts himself in the position of the employees, recognizes their perspectives and challenges and reacts accordingly in a supportive way. This creates a basis of trust and strengthens the relationships in the team, which in turn can lead to higher employee satisfaction and productivity.

Knowing your people with empathy and active listening skills is key to servant leadership. Evaluate listening skills by assessing if the candidate has the patience to listen without cutting off the interviewer. Test empathy by asking for a scenario with an empathic solution. Candidate should be others-focused, non-judgmental, and passionate about serving. Empower and help people reach their full potential. Vision and strategic planning are necessary, along with the ability to enable collaboration, contribution, and continuous learning.

Developing the team is paramount for Servant Leaders. When I ask about their approach, I expect to hear a focus on training, empowerment, and mentorship opportunities. They'll describe strategies for identifying individual strengths and weaknesses, and creating a culture of continuous learning where everyone feels supported in reaching their full potential.

Ownership is key. By describing a project that fell short, I want to see the candidate take responsibility for their actions, focus on solutions, and emphasize learning opportunities for the team. A Servant Leader will demonstrate not just a willingness to take credit for successes, but also the humility to acknowledge mistakes and use them as a chance for the entire team to grow.

Building trust and collaboration is essential. If I ask about fostering teamwork, a Servant Leader will highlight open communication, promote collaboration, and showcase their ability to create a sense of shared purpose. They'll describe strategies for building trust among team members, encouraging open communication, and fostering a sense of camaraderie that allows everyone to contribute their best work.

Sharing a vision is an essential part of Servant Leadership. A Servant Leader has a clear idea of the future and strives to ensure that his employees share this vision1. This is done through inspiring communication and motivation, which encourages employees to work for the common goals. In a team where the vision is conveyed by the management level and shared by the employees, there is a higher motivation and more and better output is achieved. A servant leader thus promotes a culture in which employees identify with the company's goals and are personally committed to achieving them. Sharing the vision allows employees to develop a sense of belonging and purpose, which in turn leads to a stronger commitment.