In this episode of Servant Leader’s Library, Nicholas Paulukow sits down with Joe Palm, author of Practical Servant Leadership, to discuss what servant leadership looks like when it moves beyond theory and into real business practice.
Joe shares his powerful personal story, the leader who changed the direction of his career, and why putting people first is not soft leadership. It is disciplined, courageous, and deeply practical. From building trust to navigating toxic workplace behavior, Joe explains how servant leadership can help teams grow, innovate, and create results that last.
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How Servant Leadership First Entered Joe’s Life
Nicholas Paulukow
Joe, your story is very personal and powerful. How did servant leadership first enter your life?
Joe Palm
My story begins in a difficult place. I grew up in an abusive home, and for a long time, I believed the message that I did not matter, that nobody cared what I thought, and that I would never amount to anything.
That began to change when I was 16. I started a faith journey that helped me understand that I had value. Later, as a software engineer, I had a manager named Barb who completely changed the way I saw leadership.
She came to my desk one day and asked, “What do you need from me that I can do to serve and support you?”
At that point, all I knew about management was pressure, deadlines, and criticism. Her question stunned me. It showed me that leadership could be different. It could be rooted in care, support, and trust.
That moment changed the direction of my career.
Why Servant Leadership Needs to Be Practical
Nicholas Paulukow
You talk about servant leadership in a very practical way. Why was that important to you when writing your book?
Joe Palm
A lot of servant leadership material is very theoretical. It sounds nice, but executives do not always have time for abstract ideas. They need practical tools that connect to real results.
That is why I wrote Practical Servant Leadership. I wanted to help leaders understand that servant leadership is not just about being kind. It is about creating environments where people can thrive, solve problems, innovate, and produce strong business outcomes.
The leader’s job is to serve the people who are delivering the results. If leaders focus on the team as the lead measure, the business results become the lag measure that follows.
People First, Results Follow
Nicholas Paulukow
You use the phrase people over profit. How do leaders actually put that into action?
Joe Palm
People first does not mean results do not matter. It means you understand where results come from.
If your team is the group delivering the work, then your role as a leader is to remove barriers, build trust, and help them succeed. That does not mean avoiding accountability. It means creating the conditions where people want to do great work because they trust the leader and believe in the mission.
Servant leadership helps leaders move from seeing people as tools to seeing them as human beings with value, dignity, and potential.
Building Trust Through Listening
Nicholas Paulukow
Trust came up a lot in this conversation. What are some practical ways leaders can build trust with their teams?
Joe Palm
One of the most powerful ways to build trust is through listening.
I learned a technique years ago called the probing question technique. Instead of coming into a conversation with a list of questions and rushing through them, you ask one question, listen carefully, and then ask a follow-up question based on what the person actually said.
That tells the other person you are truly listening. It turns an interview into a conversation.
When people feel heard, they begin to open up. That is where trust starts to grow.
The Role of Curiosity in Humble Leadership
Nicholas Paulukow
You also talk about humility. How can leaders practice humility in a corporate environment where that may not always feel natural?
Joe Palm
Curiosity is one of the best paths to humility.
The more you learn, the more you realize how much you do not know. Leaders who stay curious are more willing to ask questions, invite feedback, and admit when they need help understanding something.
That kind of humility builds trust. It shows the team that leadership is not about having every answer. It is about learning, growing, and working together to find the best path forward.
Why Teams Need Space to Innovate
Nicholas Paulukow
What are some of the biggest challenges leaders face when they try to introduce servant leadership?
Joe Palm
One of the biggest challenges is time.
Most teams are so busy trying to hit deadlines that they do not have space to think, experiment, or improve. But people have a natural need to play, create, and innovate. If leaders do not create room for that, teams stop growing.
Leaders need to build margin into the work. They need to create psychological safety so people can test ideas, learn, and share what they discover.
Not every idea will become an implementation. Some ideas become illuminations. That learning still matters.
Dealing With Culture Vultures
Nicholas Paulukow
You use the phrase “culture vultures” in your book. What do you mean by that?
Joe Palm
Culture vultures are corporate bullies. They are people whose behavior damages trust, safety, and culture.
One misconception is that we are powerless against them. But we have choices. We have agency. We can decide how to respond in ways that protect dignity while still refusing to accept toxic behavior.
Servant leadership does not mean allowing poor behavior. It means dealing with it honestly, courageously, and constructively.
Serving People While Holding Them Accountable
Nicholas Paulukow
Some leaders struggle with the idea of serving people while also holding them accountable. How do those two ideas work together?
Joe Palm
Accountability is part of serving.
A leader should be accountable for serving the team well. The team is accountable for the results. When a leader says, “I am here to remove barriers, help you succeed, and make sure you have what you need,” that creates a different kind of accountability.
It becomes collaborative instead of fear-based.
People do not want to disappoint a leader they trust. They want to rise to the standard because they feel supported, valued, and responsible to the team.
How Servant Leadership Helped Build Business Growth
Nicholas Paulukow
You helped grow a technology startup by 5,000% in 30 months. What role did servant leadership play in that growth?
Joe Palm
It played a major role.
We focused on taking care of people, building relationships, and doing the right thing, even when it cost us. We listened deeply to the market. We built trust with customers before we even had a fully ready product to sell.
That trust created loyalty.
At one point, our business valuation went from around $6,000 to $30 million. That happened because we put people first, built strong relationships, and refused to compromise on character. In my career, I have never seen technical incompetence be the main reason someone failed on a team. It almost always came down to character.
Servant Leadership in Remote and Hybrid Teams
Nicholas Paulukow
How does servant leadership work in remote or hybrid environments?
Joe Palm
It takes a different skill set, but the principles are the same.
People still know whether you are listening. They still know whether you care. In remote environments, leaders need to be even more intentional about connection because every meeting can become purely work-focused.
That is why small things matter, like virtual coffee breaks, team check-ins, and conversations that are not only about tasks.
Remote workers can feel isolated if leaders are not intentional. Servant leadership helps create connection even when people are not physically in the same room.
The Myth That Servant Leadership Is Soft
Nicholas Paulukow
What is one myth about servant leadership that you wish would go away?
Joe Palm
That it is soft.
Servant leadership is not soft. It is brutally courageous. It requires tenacity, discipline, and a willingness to push against systems that may be autocratic or unhealthy.
It is not for the faint of heart. It will cost you something.
But it is worth it because it builds trust, strengthens people, and creates better results.
Advice for Emerging Leaders
Nicholas Paulukow
What advice would you give to young or aspiring leaders?
Joe Palm
Do not wait for a title to lead.
Leadership opportunities are everywhere. If someone needs help and you step up with empathy, initiative, and humility, that is leadership.
You do not need formal authority to serve people well. In fact, leaders often notice the people who are already leading before they are ever given the title.
Look for opportunities to serve, support, and take initiative. That is how leadership grows.
Legacy
Nicholas Paulukow
What do you want leaders to think about when it comes to legacy?
Joe Palm
Give serious thought to what you want your legacy to be.
People may not remember that you helped improve the bottom line by a certain percentage. But they will remember your honesty, your courage, your trustworthiness, your integrity, and your character.
That is what gets passed on. That is what lasts.
Final Takeaway
Nicholas Paulukow
What is one thing you hope every leader takes away from this conversation?
Joe Palm
Servant leadership is not just a philosophy. It is a practical way to lead people, build trust, and create meaningful results.
If you want strong business outcomes, start by serving the people responsible for creating them.
Preorder Joe Palm’s Book here: https://practicalservantleadership.com/
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XbZfbcERWTQ
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6M7yzm4fz77qgwYZXrNVrb?si=fRVCBeTMSLazkZVXn8VNtQ
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