Nov 25, 2014 understanding servant leadership theory. Unlike traditional military leader approaches that focus on the goals of the organization, servant leaders prioritize the development of the individuals. The leader as a servant has historical origins back to biblical days, though this has not been a concept understood or practiced by many. Characteristics of the servantleader servant leadership deals with the reality of power in everyday lifeits legitimacy, the ethical restraints. Relationships are the key to successful servant leadership. Following greenleaf, a wealth of servantleadership experts emerged. The perfect explanation of servant leadership theory with. Servant leadership can improve an organization andor society over the long term.
Before dealing with servant leaderships forbearers, it will be necessary and extremely useful to define what exactly is meant by servant leadership. Servant leadership leadership tools and models from. This particular element offers one of the clearest distinctions between the traditional authoritarian model and that of servant. Servant leaders cultivate relationships by listening, being aware and empathetic, and fostering others growth. The basic idea of servant leadership is that, first and foremost, we are here to serve the organization. The idea of servant leadership was coined more thoroughly and brought to a modern business world by robert k. A servant leadership has been raised up in recent years since robert greenleaf publish his personal journal about his own experience journey. Jun 27, 2016 the great leader is seen as servant first robert k. This was a significant departure from the great man theory and its concept of heroic individuals leading from the front. The population included all high school teachers in the states public and private high schools. And although servant leadership certainly seems like the most ideal theory, clearly, finding true servant leaders would be difficult. Both of this stream are important to strengthen the servant leadership theory building in academic perspective. From the great man theory of the 19th century, to new research on genetic factors underpinning leadership behaviours, theres a wealth of data to examine.
Our mission is to advance servant leadership, both as a field of academic study and as a management practice. Indiana wesleyan university scholarly research in servant leadership is growing. Greenleaf the above quote lays its premise on a leadership theory that has gone to challenge traditional leadership models. The research has included identifying traits of servant leaders. An etymological study of servant leader, servant leadership and all the writings and reflections of robert greenleaf are studied. A servant leader is primarily driven by the desire to serve others, and then makes a conscious choice to aspire to leadership to accomplish this goal. A recommended typology for servant leadership studies jim laub, ed. Servant leadership is a management model made popular by robert k.
Servant leaders are a revolutionary bunchthey take the traditional power leadership model and turn it completely upside down. Servant leadership research roundtable august 2005. Leadership was bestowed upon a man who was by nature a servant. Ten principles of servant leadership stark state college. Keywords for the searches included servant leadership, servant leadership philosophy. The servantleader is servant first it begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Research on servant leadership includes several attempts to conceptualize the term. A recommended typology for servant leadership studies page 1 servant leadership roundtable august, 2004 defining servant leadership. This new hierarchy puts the peopleor employees, in a. Although mentioned in other leadership theories, it has never been given the central position it has in servant leadership theory. Regent university by extending the research of pattersons 2003 servant leadership theory, this paper explores the acceptability and applicability of servant leadership theory s construct of service in the context of kenyan leaders and managers. The understanding and practice of servant leadership. Greenleaf first presented the theory in a 1970 essay, the servant as leader. Bradley rejects greenleafs model based on a conception of christian realism.
It has been in use only for about two hundred years, although the term leader, from which it was derived, appeared as early as a. Our final theory to explore is servant leadership, which originated in the writings of robert greenleaf. While servant leadership is a timeless concept, the phrase servant leadership was coined by robert k. A short history of leadership theories by gene early our world is changing and so is our understanding of leadership. His theory of servant leadership is shaped by a religiously indeterminate moral vision of the world and includes a number of moral virtues.
Workspirited gives you an explanation of the servant leadership theory with some examples. Application of the construct of service in the context of kenyan leaders and managers servant leadership. Servant leadership may be the answer to the current demand for a more ethical, peoplecentred leadership where humility, servitude and contribution are key elements. Leadership, leadership styles, and servant leadership franco gandolfi and seth stone abstract research on leadership has become a prominent scholarly and professional pursuit in an everchanging, highly complex, and multidimensional globalized world. Pdf valid and reliable measurement instruments grounded in theory are essential to move the field of servant leadership forward. The transformational leadership model was conceived in part by james macgregor burns in 1978 and bernard bass in 1985. Greenleaf in 1970, the servant leadership theory defines a form of leadership where the leaders primary role is to be of service to others first.
The purpose of this book is to provide an overview of current thinking and empirical research of the determinants, underlying processes and consequences of servant leadership. Fortunately, there is an idea about leadership that embeds ethical considerations, and that is servant leadership. This type of leader focuses on the spiritual meaning of her. Problems with the servant leadership model your business. The advantages of the servant leadership style your business. Servant leadership is not a leadership style or technique as such. At its core, servantleadership is a longterm, transformational approach to life and workin essence, a way of beingthat has the potential for creating positive change throughout our society. One potential way is to inculcate servant leadership into the.
It complements democratic leadership styles, and it has similarities with transformational leadership which is often the most effective style to use in business situations and level 5 leadership which. Select two people who know you in a leadership capacity such as a coworker, fellow group member, or subordinate. Servantleadership may be the answer to the current demand for a more ethical, peoplecentred leadership where humility, servitude and contribution are key elements. He tells of discovering the concept of servantleadership through reading journey to the east by herman hesse, 19561992, the story of a band of men who set out on a long journey. We advance servant leadership by publishing quality empirical and. Servant leadership is a practice, like yoga or playing the piano, the more we practice the more comfortable we can get. Leading as a servant comes with certain advantages and some downsides. True leadership must be for the benefit of the followers, not to enrich the. Sep 25, 2016 servant leadership promotes learningfocused classrooms. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. Servant leadership leadership development for higher. From a managerial perspective, the benefits of servant leadership are many.
Zingermans didnt invent the idea of servant leadership we learned our approach from robert greenleaf and have adapted his thoughts, along with the thoughts of many other leaders weve admired, into our approach to servant leadership. Characteristics of the servant leader servant leadership deals with the reality of power in everyday lifeits legitimacy, the ethical restraints. It is a leadership style that is focused on and prioritizes not organizational goals, but the wellbeing of those employed within an organization. Servant leadership is not entirely a new concept or a way to lead, but it hasnt been intentionally applied until in recent decades when the idea took off in force. Servant leadership theory, and offers servant leadership as potential method to build mutual trust in army units. The term servant leadership was coined in 1970 by robert greenleaf. The lists of potential reasons for such a shift are many. The servant leader is servant first it begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. This leads to the importance of this topic, that an urgency must be generated to revolutionize trustbuilding theories that enable true mission command in the challenges of the future. Servant leadership and power scandinavian journal for. The cons of an otherwise ideal leadership theory april 2, 2018 by cas5184 1 comment the definition of servant leadership as defined by its creator, robert greenleaf, is that the focus of leaders is on others rather than upon self and on understanding the role of the leader as a servant. The historical development and conceptual influences of. Pdf a servant leadership has been raised up in recent years since robert greenleaf publish his personal journal about his own experience journey find.
Greenleaf in 1970, is a theoretical framework that advocates a leaders primary motivation and role as service to others. Valid and reliable measurement instruments grounded in theory are essential to move the field of servant leadership forward. Considering alone the fact that it involves giving up ones own selfglory, it would obviously, eliminate many people from succeeding as many leaders seek praise and rewards for their successes. Rather its a way of behaving that you adopt over the longer term. It was something given, or assumed, that could be taken away. Leadership, leadership styles, and servant leadership. Summary the servantleadership theory is grounded in the idea that a leader is one who seeks to serve others. Servant leadership is a style of leadership that heavily emphasizes the good of workers and subordinates. Wong and pace, 2003, dennis 2004, barbuto and wheeler 2006.
Much has been studied and written about servant leadership since that time. An organizational and spiritual awakening is currently taking place. This is because leadership is a major factor which contributes immensely to the general wellbeing of organisations and nations. Greenleaf described servant leadership as beginning with a natural feeling that one wants to serve first. There is no perfect leadership theory or technique. Patterson 2003 presented the theory of servant leadership as an extension of transformational leadership theory and defined and developed the component constructs underlying the practice of servant. While social exchange theory has provided an important base for servant leadership research, the conceptualization of servant leadership lends itself to behavioral theories that transform their followers mindset and behaviors longterm, rather than seek a shortterm quid pro quo from their followers i.
Servant leadership theory development talks about the concept and the model of this leadership style, however servant leadership measurement tried to find empirical research to measure servant leadership concept. Leadership, transactional leadership, transformational leadership, charismatic leadership. Abbott turner college of business at columbus state university, which is published biannually. The role of servant leadership and transformational. The central idea behind this business management style is that the leader serves her employees by addressing their needs above herself. Chapter 10 servant leadership 245 servant leadership questionnaire instructions. Introduction the term leadership is a relatively recent addition to the english language. The main point here however is that attempting to develop a characterbehavioural set from servant leadership philosophy inevitably shifts the ideas to being traitbased leadership theory, with the seemingly insurmountable challenge of establishing a list of traits which can be widely agreed. But to me, this story clearly says that the great leader is seen as servant first, and that simple fact is the key to his greatness.
Greenleaf in 1970, is a theoretical framework that advocates a leader s primary motivation and role as service to others. Servant leadership theory development talks about the concept and the model of this leadership style, however servant leadership measurement tried to find empirical research to measure servant. One lasting influence prior to this era is robert greenleafs work on servant leadership 1970, which emphasised. Greenleafs conception of servant leadership has brought about significant change in the philosophy of leadership and management in numerous arenas of the secular business. Make two copies of this questionnaire and give a copy to each individual you have chosen. Leadership scholars have concluded that one of the elements that distinguishes servant leadership from other leadership theories is the moral element. The most commonly cited definition of servant leadership in greenleafs writings is the following answer he gave to the question of who is a servant leader. Greenleaf in the servant as leader, an essay that he first published in 1970. Since the turn of the millennium, starting with laubs 1999 organizational leadership assessment ola, we have seen several instruments enter the field for example, page and wong 2000. Currently, there does not exist a comprehensive summary of empirical studies exploring servant leadership theory in organizational settings e. One theorist, larry spears, outlined ten characteristics of servant leaders by analyzing the writings of greenleaf. Pdf servant leadership theory jeremiah gakuru academia. This study examined the extent to which teachers perceptions of their principals servant leadership behaviors correlate with teacher job satisfaction. More people in the new millennium are seeking deeper meaning in work beyond financial rewards and prestige.
The concept of servant leadership finds its roots as far back in history as 600 b. Leo was actually the leader all of the time, but he was servant first because that was what he was, deep down inside. Servant leadership requires leaders to place the needs of others over their own selfinterests. For marshall, legitimate power is identical with the character and virtues of servant leadership as this is revealed in christ. We cant study servant leadership or read a book and all of a sudden realign ourselves from what we have always known. Servant leadership is a philosophy and set of practices that enriches the lives of individuals, builds better organizations and ultimately creates a more just and caring world. Servant leadership research roundtable august 2005 jeremiah ole koshal, ph. Understanding the pros and cons of any philosophy is crucial to any leadership style you adopt.
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