Servant leaders are servants first, have a genuine want to serve others, and ultimately make a conscious decision to lead others (Greenleaf, Senge, Covey, & Spears, 2002)Click and drag to move. Servant leadership is based upon twelve unique principles that ultimately improve the wellbeing of the followers and the community (Greenleaf et al., 2002)Click and drag to move. Many great leaders utilize a multitude of these principles to help motivate, influence, and lead others. Individuals that exhibit servant leadership qualities, such as Martin Luther King, Jr., possess skills and qualities that help motivate others and driven by a sense of a higher calling (Northouse, 2016)Click and drag to move. Servant Leadership Principles and Application King was known for his “genuinely unselfish, compassionate, and action-oriented leadership” (p. …show more content…
introduction) as well as his many speeches or rallies where he would speak from his own convictions (Phillips, 2001). King lead by example, encouraging his followers to always take the high road, by avoiding violence in protest events or when detained by the police (Phillips, 2001). King, Jr. had a calling to serve humanity that, according to Phillips (2001), he heard a voice telling him to “Do something for others” (ch. 14). Qualities to Inspire Followership King, like many successful leaders, grew into his leadership role.
He believed in listening and learning from the people first as a means to connect with the people, then he would speak (Phillips, 2001). By listening first and speaking second, King was able to build a trusting relationship with his followers (Cianci, Hannah, Roberts, & Tsakumis, 2014). King, was also very transparent in his approach to leading; upon formally accepting the leadership role of the boycotts, he increased the number of mass meetings that were held each week as well as holding a vote to determine if the boycotts should continue (Phillips, 2001). By allowing the voice of his followers to be heard on a routine basis and being transparent throughout the course of the boycotts, King was able to cultivate a deeper sense of trust from his followers (Gardner, Cogliser, Davis, & Dickens, 2011). Finally, King was honest, able to communicate effectively, and showed foresight for how the future would be shaped (Phillips, 2001). He is well known for his ‘I have a dream’ speech which exemplifies his use of foresight and his effective communication
techniques. Aspects to Emulate While King has a magnitude of qualities that helped to inspire followership, I believe that listening, foresight, empathy, and persuasiveness are essential qualities that I need to emulate to inspire followership within my organization to become a successful leader. Through listening carefully to the needs of others and showing empathy; I will be able to gain a better understanding of their point of view, needs, and wants (Greenleaf et al., 2002)Click and drag to move. Foresight is important as well, it will enable me to learn from the past, present, and perceive the possible consequences of the choices made (Greenleaf et al., 2002). Finally, persuasiveness will allow me to influence others in a positive way, instead of forcing obedience on them (Greenleaf et al., 2002). Conclusion Overall, there are a lot of lessons about being a great servant leader that we can all learn from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A servant leader must be committed to the success others and the community in which they serve (Greenleaf et al., 2002). Servant leadership plays a vital to the success of organizations, through the use of listening, foresight, empathy, and persuasiveness, leaders are able help organizations, individuals, and communities reach their goals.
There has been a bit of research done on the nature of servant leadership. The belief is that many organizations are moving from the traditional style of leadership to a more servant based style. Larry C. Spears (2010) and Kent Keith (2016) note a few characteristics of one who is a servant leader. The characteristics proposed by Spears (2010) are listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to others growth, and community building. These traits will often manifest naturally becoming more enriched as time goes by through experience. Keith (2016) references only four elements of servant leadership. He begins with an element of morality, then of the servant focus, concern for others’
Servant leadership, as defined by Kretiner and Kinkicki (2015, p.486), is putting the needs of others, including employees, customers, and community ahead of one’s own needs. This management style requires selflessness and humility from management so the organization can focus on serving key stakeholders. There are ten characteristics of a servant-leader as identified in the text
The importance of servant leadership should not be underestimated and it can be simplified and embodied in one timeless phrase: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. When applied to leadership the result can be phenomenal. Those who wish to serve do so with their hearts, it is not forced nor is it with resentment. The servant leader serves out of acceptance and ownership of their ability and duty.
Servant leadership is a philosophy and set of practices that augments the lives of individuals, builds better organizations, and creates a more just and caring world, they put the team first, and themselves second (MindTools, 2015). Servant leaders are able to demonstrate their traits through interaction with followers and other leaders within the organization. The characteristics of servant leaders include their commitment to the growth of people, stewardship, and building community, and provide leaders with the opportunity to experience change and to invite followers to change (Savage-Austin & Honeycutt 2011). Servant leadership encourages leaders and followers to ‘raise one another to higher levels of motivation and morality’, and set their leadership focus: follower’s first, organizations second, their own needs last (Sendjaya, Sarros, & Santora, 2008). The servant leader focuses on the needs of others to include team members.
What is a servant leader? A servant leader is a individual that wants to serve first and is selfless. “The servant-leader is servant first. It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first.” (Keith) A servant leader can be anyone in a group setting from a work place, education, religion and cultures. Jesus was a servant leader. He was selfless he died on the cross for our sins. He was selfless and while here on earth was always helping people and teaching the way of the lord.
Primary service is the key. Many view this as a contradiction because the leader is leading and serving. How can a person do both? Good servant leaders are good listeners. The communication between the leader and the follower being served allows the leader to listen to the follower first, in order to understand what the other person has to say and to understand their needs. These leaders practice empathy as well. Understanding what the follower is facing or feeling is comforting to the follower because it validates their importance to another person. The ability to heal a person through care and the concern for a person’s well being is another quality of a servant leader. These are only a few of the characteristics that generate a strong servant leader. Mother Teresa said, “The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it.” Her words describe exactly what servant leaders do. Servant leaders serve others willingly because they find joy and pleasure in doing so. The outcome of serving others in this manner is growth and social impacts for a greater good. When there is an improvement in self-actualization, followers improve in their goal reaching or task completion by understanding their full potential to do
Servant leadership consists of leaders helping their followers become leaders themselves. The use personal skills such as empathy, compassion and listening to help their followers succeed. It is not necessarily the most popular form of leadership but, it has been proven successful b those leaders who implement it in their work practices. Servant leaders typically have a strong bond with their team. They are the base and the foundation of their teams.
Martin Luther King Jr. was a social activist who played a very important part in the American Civil rights movement. Martin Luther King’s work still continues to serve as a superb example of leadership. Some leadership qualities he demonstrated were being able to persuade others without force. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was able to convince millions of people to support his dreams through nonviolent protests and speeches. He gave people something to believe in. Another leadership quality that Dr. King Jr. was to embrace fear. He taught people it is better to admit your fears so you are able to be courageous in spite of it. Getting everyone involved was another leadership quality that he displayed. Martin King Jr was able to involve so many people because they all felt they were part of a bigger
Servant leadership is becoming a more “sought-after” concept in today’s society, but what exactly is servant leadership? Does it mean different things to different people? Although the three books, The Servant as Leader, The Servant, and Lead Like Jesus, all center around servant leadership, each author takes a different perspective on the meaning of being a servant leader. Robert Greenleaf addresses leadership from a straight-forward stance; saying that a good leader must be a servant-first by finding the will within themselves to put the needs of their group before their own. James Hunter discusses servant leadership through a story involving everyday people that the reader can relate to. He uses Jesus as a guide to explain how to initiate character development that will, in turn, fashion servant leadership. Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges offer a new perspective on servant leadership by bringing Jesus into the picture on an even deeper level than Hunter. They explain that by knowing Jesus Christ and developing an intimate personal
Martin Luther King Day is a day to remember all of the things that King did in his life including his life story, his “I Have a Dream” speech, and his memorable holiday. People celebrate to salute Martin’s accomplishments and thank him. “A day on, not a day off” has been told to express that the holiday is used to also encourage community service (Schulke). This man changed the timeline of history and clearly left his mark on the world. Next time it’s the third Monday in January, remember that it is not just a regular day; it is a landmark in history.
King traveled the country making speeches and inspiring people to become involved in the Civil Rights Movement. He organized non-violent student sit-ins and fought for the rights of the black population. In his speech, he proclaimed a free and better nation of equality and that both races, the blacks and the whites, should join together to achieve common ground and to support each other instead of fighting against one another. King’s vision is that all people should be judged by their “personality and character and not by their color of skin”(‘I Have a Dream”). All the points he made in his speech were so strong that lots of people were interested in his thoughts. He dreamed of a land where the blacks could vote and have a reason to vote and where every citizen would be treated the same and with the same justice.
Servant leadership was a term that was first used by Keifner Greenleaf(1970) in his first essay, The Servant as Leader (as cited by Crippen, C., 2005). Greenleaf based his essay on his belief that a servant leader is a servant first, and explained that it would begin with the natural urge to serve and then the leader would make a conscious choice to become a leader, in doing so he makes the choice to ensure that others needs are met first (2005 ). As a servant leader develops he should always keep aware of those who he serves and strive to ensure that they are becoming healthier, wiser, freer, have an increase in autonomous, and are become more like servants themselves (2005). Leaders and organizations can use the principles of servant leadership to frame decisions, and service that include focus on the community, care of others and quality services (Waterman, R., 2011). Watermen states that working to higher purpose increases standards, integrity and should lead the followers through supports, shared visions and bring followers together in toward a common purpose to provide service to others.
We don't have to curse and go around acting bad with our words. We don't need any bricks and bottles. We don't need any Molotov cocktails.” he believed in peaceful protest, non violence; in a world of peace. Something TRULY is happening to our world. “The masses of people are rising up. And wherever they are assembled today, whether they are in Johannesburg, South Africa; Nairobi, Kenya; Accra, Ghana; New York City; Atlanta, Georgia; Jackson, Mississippi; or Memphis, Tennessee -- the cry is always the same: "We want to be free." life of segregation and inequality and never a threat from king's mouth, just peaceful protest. King wanted not just his race of people but the people of america to be united, to not stand for this, to unite as one and bring justice and equality to the states. He wants not him, but his children, the next generation of kids could live a life where they can be treated equally. His speeches brought people together, they united people of all races to stand up to these companies, to these people who fight against them. "If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?" “But then the Good Samaritan came
One man stood resolute in the face of millions, staring into the sneering eyes of his foes and accepting smiles of his allies. He took the podium, gazing up into the sky, hoping for guidance from his spiritual forefathers. The efforts of hundreds and the sacrifices of thousands all stood upon this proclamation. A vicious vacuum sucked out the surrounding air in a savage vortex as he fatefully declared, “I have a dream”. This man, Martin Luther King Jr., was one of countless many who stood for equal rights. Although there are also those who stood just as firm for the same cause, he stands out as my role model for three main reasons.
This was the beginning of King’s passion to obtain freedom and equal rights for all of the American people (Phillips, 2001). King was a ministers son, learning about God throughout his life; this allowed him the spiritual guidance and the opportunity to practice public speaking at the church (Phillips, 2001). King later went on to obtain a degree in ministry as well (Phillips, 2001). Upon graduation, King decided to move back home to Georgia because he felt that, “there were great opportunities there to transform a section of the country into something rich. I mean rich in spirit-and beautiful” (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as cited by Phillips, 2001, p. 452). King grew overtime into his leadership role, first he was “suddenly catapulted” as the leader of the bus protest (p. 587), but as he learned more of what the people wanted and needed, he began to take a more active role in leadership (Phillips,