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Strategies Of A Servant Leader
Strategies Of A Servant Leader
Servant leadership key words
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Servant leadership is a philosophy and practice of leadership defined by Robert Greenleaf, Greenleaf work for AT&T for many years studying management and education. All along, Greenleaf felt that the power centered authoritarian leadership way used a lot in the United States was not working. Servant leaders achieve results for their group by giving priority attention to the needs of their colleagues and those they serve. Leaders who use this philosophy are usually humble stewards of the organization the take part in. According to Robert Greenleaf’s essay, Essentials of Servant Leadership the idea came out of the book we read Journey to the East. The central character of the story is Leo, who accompanies the party as a servant who does their chores, but who brings with him his song and spirit. All is good until Leo disappears. Once Leo was not to be found …show more content…
He says now that caring for people are done through large complex institutions. Greenleaf proposes if that a better society is the occur one with more love, and creative opportunity of the people. Then the country world have to bring up the capacity to serve, and the performance as servant of existing major institutions by regenerative forces operating in them. Another part of the book talks specifically about servant leadership in business. Greenleaf talks about three statements that are important for the business man should take note on. One such statement is; Businesses are asked not only to produce goods and services, but to become greater social assets as institutions. He brings up the difficulty of businesses following the rules making the government treat corporations like crime organizations. And that in general the people hate big business. But in the end the business should do the right
Servant leadership is a designation coined by Robert Greenleaf in 1970 in an essay entitled The Servant as Leader. In this essay, he describes the servant leader and a servant first contrary to one who is a leader first. The difference is the servant chooses to put others needs before his own while the leader first may later become a servant from the promptings of a sense of right and wrong or simply because they are coerced in that direction (Greenleaf, 1991).
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 Servant Leader discusses the importance of leaders who adopt a service oriented attitude in which they care for the needs of others before their own. A servant leader need not be an actual servant or have ever been a servant to become a servant leader. Rather, a servant leader is born with or adopts an “others first” disposition. Climbing through the ranks may help to create a servant leader, though it is not necessary. When leaders choose to see that the needs of their followers or their organizations are the highest priority they become servants.
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.
Servant leadership is a perplexing theory. It takes on radical ideas like a lifetime employment policy, or employee-wide furlough, to illustrate how putting the leader at the service of their employees can result in efficient leadership. “When individuals engage in servant leadership, it is likely to improve outcomes at the individual, organizational, and societal levels (PSU, 2014)". The servant leadership actions of Charlie Kim and Bob Chapman depict how the proper use of servant leadership creates trust, and inspires productivity; benefiting their organization, their employees, and
Robert Greenleaf adopted the idea of servant leadership from the novel, Journey to the East, written by Herman Hesse (Wren, T. J., 1995, p. 18). The story is about a servant named Leo who does menial chores but also has high spirits and provides songs for a band of men on a mythical journey. One day, Leo disappears and the group falls into disarray causing the journey is abandoned. The group cannot make it without Leo (Wren, T. J., 1995, p. 18). Leo connects the group, by leading in a way that makes the group cohesive so that when he left, the group could not function without him. This same situation is represented by Mulan as she is essential to the troop’s success. Originally, Mulan joins the army as a servant to her
Servant leadership is both a leadership philosophy and set of leadership practices. Traditional leadership generally involves the
The basic philosophy of servant leadership can be traced back through centuries. From Greek philosophers like Plato, to religious figures such as Jesus, all have been credited as sources that servant leadership has drawn from. Even Sir Francis Bacon was quoted “Men in great place are thrice servants, servants of the sovereign or state, servants of fame and servants of business.” (valeri) While there are traces of servant leadership all over ancient coulters, Robert K Greenleaf is credited as the first modern philosopher introducing the topic we identify as servant leadership. (valeri) Through Greenleaf’s writings, we now have a clear text that lays the groundwork allowing us to understand what a servant leader is.
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.
Chung, Y. (2011). Why servant leadership? Its uniqueness and principles in the life of Jesus. Journal Of Asia Adventist Seminary, 14(2), 159-170.
The author called out for servant leadership for long-term success for all stakeholders. Similar to other professions leader needs to hone their abilities to be effective in their leadership role. To find a purpose in what you achieve besides money, power, and fame resonates with the True North. A leader should act in the best interests of the organization that would lead to a greater good. To have a balance between IQ and EQ will lead to leadership with the True North. Passion, compassion, empathy, and courage matters the heart decisions are important components of the True North. To develop as a worthy human being, a leader must become self aware, integrated human being, and comfortable being his/herself. In addition a leader with the True North moves from I to we, is humble, serve customers, empower people, and align personal values with organization’s mission. A leader with True North demonstrates a high degree of integrity and walks his/her talk. A leader with a True North is an integrated leader with fine balance between personal, family, work, and community life. On a similar note, a leader with True North aligns and nourishes their mind, body, and soul.
Leaders have those indispensable qualities of contagious self-confidence, unwarranted optimism, and incurable idealism that allow them to attract and mobilize others to undertake tasks these people never dreamed they could undertake. (To Lead or Not to Lead, Unit One 36)
The Servant, written by James C. Hunter, is an intriguing book about the realities of leadership we oftentimes unconsciously face and overlook. The narrator (John), is the general manager of a rather large company. He believes he has everything life has to offer, yet something is still missing. After arriving hesitantly upon his wife’s suggestion to a “retreat” at a Christian monastery for those in leadership positions, John skeptically began his week long journey towards new understanding.
Though a little dry to read at times, I found this book to be an excellent beginner’s guide to leadership. Although the idea of “corporate” can be a bit dull after a while, Bennis and Nanus continuously attempt to liven it up with real-life examples of their strategies put into practice. They make it clear that the strategies are not what they came up with out of nowhere, but have been determined from years of various case studies. One of my favorite aspects of the book is its ability to imbue an “I can do this!” attitude to the reader.
George’s True North approach to authentic leadership training follows several key elements: “Authentic leadership can begin right now, you needn’t be born with the characteristic or leadership traits, you do not have to wait to be tapped on the shoulder to lead but step up at any point, no matter your age, because “Leadership is your choice, not your title” (2007).