And they spoke to him, saying, "If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever." 1 Kings 12:7

What’s the context? Solomon was dead and his son, Rehoboam, was now king. The young king sought counsel on how to rule.
1 Kings 12:7 records the wise advice from older counselors. Other advice from his young peers counseled Rehoboam to lead oppressively.

The young king passed on the advice to leads with a light hand, opting to rule with the rod.

Leaders are routinely tempted to coercively exert their authority rather than leading as servants. The best leaders are strong, but winsome. The worst leaders are tyrannical. This is true regardless of where one leads; whether at home, at work, at church, or in government.

The perfect Leader is King Jesus, who is also the Good Shepherd.

But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave-- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Matthew 20:25-28