‘Leadership is not a Privilege, Leadership is a Service’

Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to explore and critically challenge the potential and limitations of servant leadership to solve the human- related problems in the hospitality industry. Method: Based on the exploratory purpose of this thesis, qualitative data was obtained in a methodology informed by the strategy-as-practice perspective through observations and semi-structured interviews. Interviews and observations were conducted at a paradigmatic case company and complemented by interviews with industry experts. The qualitative data analyses followed a narrative approach. Conclusions: Even though servant leadership seems to be an utopian paradigm, based on findings at the case company, servant leadership holds many ideas that could solve the hospitality industry’s problems on a larger scale and benefit the industry. But, a complete implementation of the theory seems to be impossible, due to its lack in empirical confirmation and idealistic nature. Furthermore, a paradox in servant leadership is existing, depicted the lack of focus on followers in literature and reality. This is in stark contrast to the content of the theory and inhibits the implementation of this promising paradigm.