Empathy is a key characteristic of servant leadership. Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo, is well-known for her empathetic approach and leading with her people in mind. Each year, Nooyi sits down to hand write over 400 letters to the parents of her senior executives, expressing her gratitude and thanking them for the gift of their child to PepsiCo. Considering the fact that 69% of employees say they would work harder if they were more appreciated, this authentic act of service is likely to pay off for PepsiCo.

Cheryl Bachelder, former CEO of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, is well-versed in servant leadership. Her servant heart, however, goes far beyond her writing and was used to achieve over $1 billion in U.S. sales and quadrupled the stock during her time with the company.

She used a collaborative and attentive approach to serve the people who had invested in the most in the brand-the franchisees. By actively listening and responding to restaurant owners’ needs, Bachelder was able to improve the customer experience and turn the trajectory of the company on its heels. She is quoted with saying, “I must know you to grow you.”