What is Servant-Leadership?
Servant-Leadership is a practical altruistic philosophy which supports
people who choose to serve first, and then lead as a way of expanding service
to individuals and institutions. Servant-leaders may or may not hold formal
leadership positions. Servant-leadership encourages collaboration, trust,
foresight, listening, and the ethical use of power and empowerment.
In
1970, AT&T executive Robert K. Greenleaf (1904-1990) coined the term in a
short essay entitled: "The Servant As Leader". In the essay, Greenleaf
describes some of the characteristics and activities of servant-leaders:
The servant-leader is servant first. It begins with the natural feeling
that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one
to aspire to lead. He or she is sharply different from the person who is
leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive
or to acquire material possessions. For such it will be a later choice to
serve - after leadership is established. The leader-first and the servant-first
are two extreme types. Between them there are shadings and blends that are
part of the infinite variety of human nature.
The difference manifests itself in the care taken by the servant-first to
make sure that other people's highest priority needs are being served. The
best test, and difficult to administer, is: do those served grow as persons;
do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous,
more likely themselves to become servants? And, what is the effect on the
least privileged in society; will they benefit, or, at least, will they
not be further deprived?
Origin of Servant-Leadership. History
In the East, Chanakya or Kautilya, a strategic thinker from ancient
India, wrote in his 4th century book Arthashastra: "The King (leader) shall
consider as good, not what pleases himself but what pleases his subjects (followers)".
In the West, the concept of servant leadership can be traced back to Jesus,
who taught his disciples: "You know that those who are regarded as rulers
of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority
over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you
must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give
his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:42-45)
Characteristics of Servant-Leaders. Traits
A servant-leader has ten characteristics (Greenleaf, R. K., 2003):
- Listening. The leader has a deep commitment to listening intently
to others. Listening also encompasses getting in touch with one's own inner
voice and seeking to understand what one's body, spirit and mind are communicating.
Listening, coupled with regular periods of reflection, is essential to the
growth of the servant-leader.
- Empathy. The servant-leader strives to understand and empathize
with others. People need to be accepted and recognized for their special
and unique spirits.
- Healing. Learning to heal is a powerful force for transformation
and integration. One of the great strengths of servant-leadership is the
potential for healing one's self and others.
- Awareness. General awareness and especially self-awareness, strengthens
the servant-leader.
- Persuasion. A servant-leader relies on persuasion, rather than
using one's positional authority.
- Conceptualization. Servant-leaders seek to nurture their abilities
to 'dream great dreams'. The ability to look at a problem (or an organization)
from a conceptualizing perspective means that one must think beyond day-to-day
realities.
- Foresight. The ability to understand the lessons from the past,
the realities of the present, and likely consequences of a decision for
the future.
- Stewardship. Holding something in trust for another.
- Commitment to the growth of people. The servant-leader is deeply
committed to the growth of each individual within his or her institution.
- Building community. Among those who work within a given institution.
Strengths of the Servant-Leadership philosophy. Benefits
- Servant-leadership is a long-term, transformational approach to life
and work - in essence, a way of being - that has the potential for creating
positive change throughout society.
- Servant-leadership is often compared with transformational leadership
approaches, which also emphasize collaboration. While transformational leaders
and servant-leaders both show concern for their followers, the overriding
focus of the servant-leaders is on service to their followers. Transformational
leaders have a greater concern for getting followers to engage in and support
organizational objectives. Compare:
Appreciative Inquiry.
The extent to which the leader is able to shift the primary focus of this
or her leadership from the organization to the follower is the distinguishing
factor in determining whether the leader may be a transformational or servant-leader.
Limitations of the Servant-Leadership concept. Disadvantages
- It is not a quick-fix approach. Nor is it something that can be quickly
instilled within an institution.
- Can be perceived by some as rather 'soft'. Listening and empathizing
too much with others may lead to indecisiveness or a lack of vision.
Book: Robert K. Greenleaf (1998) - Insights on leadership: Service,
stewardship, spirit, and servant-leadership (L. C. Spears, Ed.)
Book: Robert K. Greenleaf (2002) - Servant-leadership: A journey
into the nature of legitimate power and greatness (L. C. Spears, Ed.)
Book: Robert K. Greenleaf (2003) - The servant-leader within:
A transformative path (H. Beazley, Julie Beggs, & Larry C. Spears, Eds.)
Forum discussions about Servant-Leadership.
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Serving and Educating
A leader should begin by the aphorism ‘to serve.’
This he integrates by developing character and responsibility in himself and his ‘associates’.
He seeks to actively listen first before doing the ...
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Servant Leadership Paradox
The paradox, or seemingly contradicting statement of servant leadership, in the context of leadership and management, can only be the idea “You can’t serve, if you lead.” this may look correct at the ...
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Followers Empower Servant Leaders
Whether paid or volunteer, cooperation is a choice followers make. The better the leaders serves the followers, the more the followers will empower the leader to lead them. Followers let us lead. They...
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A Faith-Based Leadership Model
As a secular and faith-based leadership coach, I have found that two paradigms are vital to include in this form of leadership:
One's STANDING in Christ (2 Thess 2:13-17), and
One's devotion to ...
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Servant Leadership at the Top Position
For me this way of leadership is generally the best, but it sometimes depends of the position. The best way to serve people is by being in the top position. The efficiency is going up with high respon...
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Values-based Leadership
We propose a reflection about the fact of values-driven organizations being successful.
In order to understand this subject, we need to reflect about what values are, and what those values mean to or...
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Egalitarianism and Servant Leadership
This topic is so near and dear to me that I just wanted to share following tidbit with visitors.
Mr. Greenleaf referenced the bible numerous times in his dialogue while creating the Servant Leader th...
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Courses about Servant-Leadership.
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The best, top-rated topics about Servant-Leadership. Here you will find the most valuable ideas and practical suggestions.
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Examples of Great Servant Leaders
In studying the bible, the most concise history of the world and our existence, it becomes evident that the most amazing example of the Servant Leadership model is the servant leadership of the son of...
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The Leader is an Enabler
Within the context of the Mission-Men-Self ethos of servant leadership, the Leader enables those around him or her to transcend their personal expectations as a means for achieving the common purpose....
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Advanced insights about Servant-Leadership. Here you will find professional advices by experts.
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Various sources of information regarding Servant-Leadership. Here you will find powerpoints, videos, news, etc. to use in your own lectures and workshops.
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Primer on Servant Leadership What is it? Skills? Relevance? Primer by Don M. Frick on Servant Leadership, taken from Robert K. Greenleaf: A Life of Servant Leadership, San Francisc...
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Servant Leadership Models and Research Teaching Servant Leadership, Coaching, Mentoring Presentation about Servant Leadership, in which some important studies about servant leadership are discussed. The prese...
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Two Recent Trends in Leadership Leadership Development, Leadership Styles, Coaching, Mentoring, Servant Leadership, Vision, Business Model Innovation Business thought leader John Spence presents 2 important trends in leadership:
BEHAVORIAL: Spence argues there is a mo...
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Authentic Leadership: Your Own Style? Authentic Leadership This presentation focuses specifically on authentic leadership (using Fire Chiefs as an example), and discusses the conc...
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Servant Leadership Models and Characteristics Teaching Servant Leadership Author: Dr. Lawson.
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Reflection for Business Leaders Leadership Reflection, Servant Leadership, Values, Moral Leadership, Vocation, Leadership Ethics, Bounded Ethicality This presentation is about the reflection in the context of business leaders. The presentation includes the following se...
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Ineffective Leadership and Unethical Leadership Leadership Types, Management, Ethics Presentation about Bad or Unethical Leadership that includes the following sections:
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Interview Desmond Tutu: Introduction to Servant Leadership Initial Understanding of Servant Leadership, Trainings, Workshops 1984 Nobel Peace Laureate Desmond Tutu on (Servant) Leadership by answering the question: "What in your opinion makes a ...
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Introduction Into Welfarenomics Welfarenomics This presentation elaborates on the concept of welfarenomics. The presentation includes the following sections;
1. Cont...
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Stewardship and Leadership Stewardship, Leadership, Family Businesses, Family Firms, Servant Leadership Stewardship, the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one`s care, is an area where many organiza...
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10 Leadership Theories in a Nutshell Leadership Theories Overview, Leadership Development, Management Development, Leadership Styles, Coaching, Mentoring This 5-minute video gives a brief overview of 10 theories of leadership, explaining their main differences:
1. The Grea...
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Summary by Deepak Chopra on 'True, Enlightened Leadership' True Leadership, Enlightened Leadership, Servant Leadership, Authentic Leadership, Visionary Leadership, Leadership Valu Indian writer of many alternative and spiritual books Deepak Chopra explains what he believes is "True Leadership": Grea...
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Introduction to Leadership Leadership Training Presentation about Leadership that explains key characteristics of leaders as seen by several authors. The presentation ...
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