Final answer:
A servant leader is characterized by empowering others to make decisions, serving collective interests, and promoting personal and professional growth among team members.
Step-by-step explanation:
A key characteristic of a servant leader is the empowerment of others to make decisions. Unlike authoritarian leaders who use positional authority to influence and control team members, servant leaders focus on serving their team by fostering an environment of growth, development, and collective decision-making. They refrain from focusing on personal gain or micromanaging the team. Instead, they support their followers by providing opportunities for personal and professional development, as highlighted by Schyns, Kroon, & Moors (2008). According to the concept of socialized charismatic leadership, such leaders work through legitimate channels, serve collective interests, and develop and empower others, as opposed to personalized leaders who may act out of narcissism and self-interest.