Servant Leadership: Specific Moral Virtues

A servant leader must listen to a person fully without interrupting or judging them. While doing my service at the animal shelter there were two other people doing service. They were prisoners wearing the orange jumpsuit. Although most people would assume they are bad and not to talk to them, me and my group had a conversation with them about the dogs. They showed a lot of compassion about what they were doing. Although it was work they were forced to do they gave it their all. I listened and communicated with them the entire time without judging whatever they might have done. This was showing servant leadership in one of the hardest

Organizational consultant S. Chris Edmonds defines servant leadership as “a person's dedication to helping others be their best selves at home, work, and in their community." I totally agree with this philosophy, as I believe an employee will benefit his team and company the most if he can perform the best he can.

Servant leadership is a theory based on Robert K Greenleaf’s belief that all men have a primary motivation to serve others and through this service they aspire to lead (Parris & Peachey, 2012). Although this leadership model has very little in common with charismatic and situational does however compare to transformational leadership in several areas. The main area of commonality between the two can be found as transformational leaders serve as stewards to change enable the followers to accept the change and move forward with the organization (Tichy & Devanna, 1990, p. 75). In essence, servant leadership becomes the long-term transformational approach to life and work.

Describe “servant leadership”. What does this mean to you? I am a firm believer in the saying “He who is the greatest servant is the greatest leader,” because it defines what servant leadership is. It is not about exercising authority over another, but rather it is the act of considering one’s needs more important than oneself. A servant leader seeks to build each other up and is willing to invest himself in the lives of others in order to accomplish the goals and desires of the body.

Although the notion of servant leadership has been recognized in leadership literature since Burns' (1978) and Greenleaf's (1977) publications, the movement has gained momentum only recently. Bowman (1997) argues that to date there is only anecdotal evidence to support a commitment to an understanding of servant leadership.

According to Greenleaf (1970), servant leaders “want to serve, to serve first” and there are ten key characteristics of servant leadership, which are listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of people and building community. The bottom line within an organization looks to measure the success of the business by looking at more than its financial success. It also looks at factors such as how well the organization treats its employees and even the environment. According the video, statistics showed that in the survey of the 100 Best Places to Work, about one-third of these companies claimed to be servant lead companies. Additionally, public held companies, who also claimed to be servant lead, showed significantly better financial success than those companies who were not servant lead. Servant leadership allows for team members to feel more empowered and involved and therefore in control of their work. Servant leadership can be a company’s competitive advantage. In the video we learn that many of the top companies which are considered as being the best companies to work for are servant lead companies. These companies are able to realize the growth and development of employees and in the process, the company benefits as well. Servant lead companies have shown to be able to survive difficult times and are able to continue to thrive when other companies are struggling.

For many generations the concept of servant leader has been used in religious arenas as a positive influence. Since the early 1970’s the actual term was coined as the concept has been applied to the general business world. The characteristic of a leader to show servant type tendencies has been universally held as positive attribute for anyone in a leadership role. But how is a servant leader measured? Are their acid or litmus type tests based on fulfillment of key characteristics that distinguish a leader as a servant leader? In this paper the concept of servant leadership, identification of servant leaders, developing servant leaders, and the impact servant leaders have in organizations will be reviewed. Perspectives will include those

Similarly, Martin Luther King Jr. echoes the teachings of Jesus throughout his life by promoting the adoption of servant leadership. In one of his sermons in 1968, he tells his followers that all of them can be leaders because they can all serve others (Get Involved, 2018). Martin Luther King Jr. and Jesus simplify and summarize the whole concept of servant leadership by merely stating that one can only be a leader if one serves others. Similar sentiments are shared in Archie B. Carroll’s article, “Servant Leadership: An ideal for nonprofit organizations,” which profoundly expounds on servant leadership. Below is a discussion of the critical concepts of servant leadership as explained by the article and their relevance to my life and work.

Conditions have to exist before servant leader can realize their full potential. A central condition is the motivation to become a Servant Leader. Dierendock states that “the need to serve combined with a motivation to lead is the basis of this model”. Self-determination is also a vital condition of servant leadership. Moral cognitive development and cognitive complexity are also individual characteristics that Dierendonck finds

Servant leadership offers a distinct viewpoint on leadership that differs from any other type of leadership. “Servant leadership goes beyond the focus of the organization and instead focuses on the needs of followers” (Carroll & Patterson, 2014, p. 15). The priority is placed on serving others and making others needs the most significant factor. “A servant-leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. While traditional leadership generally involves the accumulation and exercise of power by one at the “top of the pyramid” (Carroll & Patterson, 2014, p. 16).

Servant leadership is a particular leadership style that focuses on serving others and putting other peoples need before theirs. Servant leadership contains a paradox meaning because “servant and leader are usually thought of as being opposites” once they come together, it creates a different meaning with a positive connotation (Spears, 2005). This leadership style, servant leadership is typically referred to having a connection with the Christian religion because it is based on some of the beliefs and morals of the Bible. The Servant leadership philosophy has been relevant for decades, Robert Greenleaf is known as the modern creator. This paper will explore the principles of servant leadership and how they are used in comparison to the

The Servant is a motivating, influential, empowering, and informative book. Just from the title, it seems so simple; a servant leader is someone in a leadership position that serves other. Yes, this is one small part of what servant leadership stands for, but there are many more components that shape a servant leader. Hunter (2012) states “Anyone wanting to be a leader must first be a servant. If you want to lead you must serve (p.71).” Being a leader is defined as positively influencing others to work towards goals that are for a common good (Hunter, 2012, p.79). In order to lead through service, there must be certain characteristics present. All of servant leadership is built on authority. Authority is defined as “a skill of getting people to willingly do your will because of your personal influence” (Hunter, 2012, p.79). A leader cannot build authority without service and sacrifice (Hunter, 2012). Hunter (2012) states, someone who leads through service and sacrifice does it by identifying and meeting legitimate needs and by putting the needs of others before their own personal needs. Serving and sacrificing for others is built on the word love (Hunter, 2012). Hunter (2012) talks about how love is always thought of as a feeling, but it can actually be a verb that describes someone’s behaviors. “Love is built on will, and the formula that produces the will is intentions plus actions” (Hunter, 2012, p. 89). Hunter (2012) sums up all of these

Upon completing studies at Concordia University, Graduate students are equipped for service in various settings, such as a member of a faith-based organization, at work, in your home, in the community and in the world. However, simply having the knowledge to serve others is not enough. Service to others is not about watching and waiting for service opportunity to arise. Instead, one must actually “pick up their mat” and look for ways to be of service to other and then act on upon those opportunities.

According to Greenleaf (2002), a servant leader is “one who serves first”, In addition, Greenleaf has argued that there are several characteristic that a servant leader should display. These included listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of people, and building a community. Of all the ten characteristics that were identified, listening was the epitome of them all. Listening can be proven to be a very vital part of the success of an organization. Increased trust and communication skills can be produced when the characteristic of listening is present.

Leadership is a skill that is developed with time, experience, and wisdom. Leadership is not developed over night, and it does not come easily for most people either. Good leaders can empower their people, these types of leaders are typically more successful because by empowering their people they build capability and can at times create a movement. Much like Esther did in the story of Esther. The book of Esther illustrates what a person can achieve when being a servant leader.