This research focused on analyzing the leadership of service as a fundamental instrument for productivity in privately run university organizations. Research was of the analytical, descriptive, field type with a non-experimental, cross-sectional design. The population consisted of 37 authorities at the universities URU, UJGH and UNICA. The data collection technique was the survey using a questionnaire of 36 items with five response alternatives: always, often, sometimes, rarely, never. Reliability was calculated by applying Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, yielding an index of 0.945. Results establish that the studied population has all the characteristics of service leadership considered; those least utilized in their management are the awareness that helps to understand issues related to ethics and values, the willingness to serve and participation. Conclusions are that the authorities interviewed usually implement collaboration and teamwork, assuming the characteristics of service leadership in their management, combining behaviors that correspond to the leadership style analyzed; however, they do not tend to use these characteristics to achieve productivity because they lack the empathy that allows them to establish a management philosophy consistent with the human talent they have in their care.