Servant Leadership Failure - Not His Cup of Tea

The trend of servant leadership often fails because managers choose optics over action, leading to servant leadership failure.

In this cartoon, I show the problem: a manager happily does the easy part - like wearing an apron and pouring tea - but completely ignores the hard strategic work required to lead.

This performance is simply an act. The core irony is that many managers care more about looking humble than adopting the actual core concept of this management style, which is empowering the team.

This focus on optics causes confusion and makes the company drift, as the manager uses small, visible tasks to avoid their main job: taking accountability and making tough decisions.

The lesson is clear: leadership needs substance, not just a nice look.

If you've encountered managers who prioritize buzzwords over action, you'll find more relatable content in these categories:

• Culture

• Leadership

• Tech

Have you encountered a manager who fully committed to the "servant" role but completely skipped the "leadership" module? Share your funniest examples of servant leadership failure in the comments below.