Measurable Success from Servant Leadership in Troubled Times:

Through their perseverance and servant leadership, Pryor and the SBLI staff were able to retain 90% of those individuals the board originally told Vikki she would need to fire. The company that was in such a dire state in 1999 is now a $1.4 Billion company spanning 49 states, financially empowering their customers everywhere. There were 77 employees at that time, but the organization has now grown to more than 200. In fact, SBLI was even voted one of the top 50 companies to work for in NYC.

Principled Leadership Turns Around SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance

When Vicki Pryor accepted leadership responsibility of this troubled company in 1999, she was told that most employees would need to be terminated. The company had a massive shortage of resources. In fact, most employees did not even have computers. Pryor explained many principles she used in her values-based, servant leadership during the turnaround of SBLI, some of these principles included:

* Recognize that what servant leaders must do today, is set an example
* Embrace that our beliefs are not enough, we must act on them
* Courageously (bring together the team) in a spirit of community to serve each other

5 Examples of Leadership Success in Troubled Times

Dealing with some rough times? Seeking some inspiration and perhaps a lesson or two in how to get through it all? Then consider the examples below...

I recently attended the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership’s Annual International Conference
Below I highlight 5 outstanding examples from the conference where servant leaders successfully navigated troubled times. These executives led with a servant’s heart, steering their struggling organizations by focusing on how they can better serve those they lead. As you face your leadership challenges, look at these examples as inspiration for business success in troubled times: