Aired: September 22, 2026

Servant Leadership: Why Leaders Who Serve Their Teams Get Better Results

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This Fall Season of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast is proudly sponsored by NextGrad.

Leadership is more than hitting targets. Greg Aden, Owner/Founder of Aden Leadership, explains why lasting leadership depends on serving the people who follow you and helping them take ownership of shared goals. Drawing from decades in hospitality, financial services, and executive coaching, Greg shares practical ways to create alignment, build accountability, and approach difficult conversations with courage. His advice gives higher education leaders a clear place to begin: stay curious, prepare well, honor your word, and make time for people.

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Β What We Cover in This Episode

πŸ”˜ How servant leadership shifts the focus from personal performance to team success

πŸ”˜ Why alignment and communication must come before accountability

πŸ”˜ Why leaders must model the accountability they expect from others

πŸ”˜ How agreements create clearer commitments than unspoken expectations

πŸ”˜ A practical framework for preparing for courageous conversations

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Episode Highlights

01:45 - Why success and leadership are not the same thing

04:41 - Making time for people when teams are stretched thin

06:28 - Why alignment must come before accountability

09:12 - The difference between expectations and agreements

14:52 - How to prepare for a courageous conversation

21:05 - Integrity, accountability, and honoring your word

23:07 - Curiosity and empathy as practical leadership tools

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NextGrad helps colleges and universities reach students where they already are, inside the high school itself. With a network of over 2,500 schools across North America, NextGrad puts your institution's message in front of future students every single day. Be the school they remember when it's time to decide.

Nextgrad.com β€” Where students see you first.

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