Servant-leadership is an approach to leadership development, coined and defined by Robert Greenleaf and advanced by several contemporary thought-leaders such as Stephen Covey, Peter Block, Peter Senge, Max DePree, Margaret Wheatley and Ken Blanchard. Servant-leadership emphasizes the leader's role as steward of the resources (human, financial and otherwise) provided by the organization. It encourages leaders to serve others while staying focused on achieving results in line with the organization's values and integrity.

Unlike leadership approaches with a top-down hierarchical style, servant-leadership instead emphasizes collaboration, trust, empathy, and the ethical use of power. At heart, the individual is a servant first, making the conscious decision to lead in order to better serve others, not to increase their own power. The objective is to enhance the growth of individuals in the organization and increase teamwork and personal involvement.

The Black Belt Group is an organization that fully believes and practices the tenants of servant-leadership.