...REGENT UNIVERSITY The Understanding and Practice of ServantLeadership Servant Leadership Research Roundtable – August 2005 Larry C. Spears President & CEO The Greenleaf Center for Servant-Leadership The servant-leader is servant first. It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. The best test is: do those served grow as persons; do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants? —Robert K. Greenleaf The mightiest of rivers are first fed by many small trickles of water, and an apt way of conveying my belief that the growing number of individuals and organizations practicing servant-leadership has increased from a trickle to a river. Servant-leadership is also an expanding river, and one which carries with it a deep current of meaning and passion. The servant-leader concept continues to grow in its influence and impact. In fact, we have witnessed an unparalleled explosion of interest and practice of servant-leadership in the past fifteen years. In many ways, it can truly be said that the times are only now beginning to catch up with Robert Greenleaf’s visionary call to servant-leadership. The idea of servant-leadership, now in its fourth decade as a concept bearing that name, continues to create a quiet revolution in workplaces around the world. This article is intended to provide a broad overview of the growing influence this inspiring...
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...leader is seen as servant first…” – Robert K. Greenleaf I could not say it any better than what Mr. Greenleaf said. Before even taking this class, I have been interested in the thoughts and theories of Robert Greenleaf who started the beginnings of Servant Leadership. Servant Leadership is the theory of leadership that I want to model my leadership style around. This short quotation, a fragment of a sentence from an essay written in 1970, captures the essence of servant-leadership theory. A simple, yet profound and powerful concept, it has spawned countless journal articles, books and multimedia productions in the 35 years since its introduction. So what is servant leadership? The very notion of a servant as leader, or “servant-leadership” as it has come to be known, is purposefully oxymoronic and arresting in nature. The theory’s originator, Robert K. Greenleaf, intentionally sought a descriptor that would give people pause for thought, and challenge any long-standing assumptions that might be held about the relationship between leaders and followers in an organization. Although aware of the negative historical connotations associated with the word ‘servant’, he felt it a necessary choice to turn established conceptions about the organizational pyramid on their head, and jump-start insight into a new view of leadership. Larry Spears, Executive Director of the Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant-Leadership, succinctly defines servant-leadership as: …A new kind...
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...The Effects of Servant Leadership within an Organization Ariel Davis Dallas Baptist University MANA 6314 Organizational Change and Development The Origin of Servant Leadership The philosophy of servant leadership is attributed to the writings of Robert K. Greenleaf and based on his faith and experiences working at one of the world’s largest telephone companies. (Greenleaf, 1977; Spears, 1995). Greenleaf speculated that one individual could simultaneously be both a leader and a servant. Though the foundation of the concept is associated to Greenleaf, he states Jesus Christ amongst other biblical front runners are the greatest leaders who served others. (Greenleaf, 1977). Servant leadership gained popularity after the writings of Greenleaf in 1970. Since the original 1970 essay by Greenleaf, additional research articles, books, and lectures have been written on the topic of servant Leadership. In the article, Work, Spirituality, the Moral Point of View Kenneth E. Goodpaster describes the concept of Servant Leadership as a buzz phrase that has taken corporate America by storm, In an environment racked with stress, insecurity, tough decisions and 60-hour weeks, you might expect a resurgence of a management model, based on Machiavelli's Prince, Leonia Helmsley or some other Theory-X icon. Instead, there's a stirring in the opposite direction: A flood of management books, articles and musings that propose the idea of leading from a service perspective; managing...
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...Community-based Organizations and Servant Leadership Abstract This work will examine the framework of community-based nonprofit organizations and explore characteristics and challenges that affect their relevance and sustainability. It will also reference the key tenets of servant leadership as initially described by Robert Greenleaf in 1970 and describe how principles of servant leadership might effectively be applied to community-based nonprofit leadership, board governance and volunteerism. . Nonprofit organizations are an integral part of life; they operate to provide public benefit rather than serving their own special interest. A large percentage of nonprofits are community-based and especially vulnerable to the volatile nature of the economy and labor market, despite providing services and aid to the very segments also affected by those factors. Limited resources also restrict a small nonprofit’s ability to attract and retain talent capable of creating, sustaining and effectively achieving a viable vision for the nonprofit. By utilizing the tenets of servant leadership, community-based nonprofits may have an opportunity to tap into, and effectively develop, local talent that has an innate desire to serve the community. The principles of servant leadership are a natural fit for leadership framework in community-based organizations due to the innate nature of one serving the community in which they reside or work. This work will examine the framework of...
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...MINI-CASE CHAPTER 8: TEAM CASE ANALYSIS REPORT Mini-Case Chapter 8 – Paying Attention Pays Off for Andra Rush Chris Gerrity, Lucas Salazar and Ray Williams Lawrence Technological University 1 Mini-Case Chapter 8 2 Table of Contents Synopsis .......................................................................................................................................... 3 Problem Identification .................................................................................................................... 3 Techniques Used ............................................................................................................................. 4 Techniques Recommended ............................................................................................................. 5 Additional Leadership Techniques ................................................................................................. 6 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................... 7 References ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Mini-Case Chapter 8 3 Synopsis Andra Rush has been working hard and listening to other people her entire life. She is a nursing school graduate and took courses at the University of Michigan’s MBA program. She is also the proud owner...
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...Emerging Leadership Theories Analysis: Servant Leadership I sometimes wonder whether Robert Greenleaf, originator of the term “servant leadership” had any idea of the extent of the impact that his seemingly oxymoronic concept would have decades after he introduced it. He was the first to recognize it as a managerial model of leadership, where the highest priority needs of the follower are being served by the servant who is the leader (Greenleaf Center, 2008). This theory is one that is exemplified by the teachings of Jesus Christ in Matthew 10:43 NIV, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” According to Dierendonck, (2011). one of the attributes of the servant leader is humility. It is an attitude by the servant leader that acknowledges that workers may have more knowledge and experience than they may. I have found that when people are approached in humility, whether in a workplace or community setting, the results are very interesting. People begin to empathize with management and an environment of trust and value emerges. This goes hand in hand with an environment where learning occurs in a give and take manner. I worked in a department where no one, except the executives had been there longer than a few years. Although I was not a manager, I emerged as servant leader by being humble and willing to help other workers attain the knowledge...
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...Management http://jom.sagepub.com/ Servant Leadership: A Review and Synthesis Dirk van Dierendonck Journal of Management 2011 37: 1228 originally published online 2 September 2010 DOI: 10.1177/0149206310380462 The online version of this article can be found at: http://jom.sagepub.com/content/37/4/1228 Published by: http://www.sagepublications.com On behalf of: Southern Management Association Additional services and information for Journal of Management can be found at: Email Alerts: http://jom.sagepub.com/cgi/alerts Subscriptions: http://jom.sagepub.com/subscriptions Reprints: http://www.sagepub.com/journalsReprints.nav Permissions: http://www.sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav Citations: http://jom.sagepub.com/content/37/4/1228.refs.html Downloaded from jom.sagepub.com at The Hebrew University Library Authority on June 29, 2011 Journal of Management Vol. 37 No. 4, July 2011 1228-1261 DOI: 10.1177/0149206310380462 © The Author(s) 2011 Reprints and permission: http://www. sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav Servant Leadership: A Review and Synthesis Dirk van Dierendonck Erasmus University Servant leadership is positioned as a new field of research for leadership scholars. This review deals with the historical background of servant leadership, its key characteristics, the available measurement tools, and the results of relevant studies that have been conducted so far. An overall conceptual model of servant leadership is presented. It is argued that leaders...
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...com/ Servant Leadership: A Review and Synthesis Dirk van Dierendonck Journal of Management 2011 37: 1228 originally published online 2 September 2010 DOI: 10.1177/0149206310380462 The online version of this article can be found at: http://jom.sagepub.com/content/37/4/1228 Published by: http://www.sagepublications.com On behalf of: Southern Management Association Additional services and information for Journal of Management can be found at: Email Alerts: http://jom.sagepub.com/cgi/alerts Subscriptions: http://jom.sagepub.com/subscriptions Reprints: http://www.sagepub.com/journalsReprints.nav Permissions: http://www.sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav Citations: http://jom.sagepub.com/content/37/4/1228.refs.html >> Version of Record - Jun 8, 2011 OnlineFirst Version of Record - Sep 2, 2010 What is This? Downloaded from jom.sagepub.com at OhioLink on February 1, 2013 Journal of Management Vol. 37 No. 4, July 2011 1228-1261 DOI: 10.1177/0149206310380462 © The Author(s) 2011 Reprints and permission: http://www. sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav Servant Leadership: A Review and Synthesis Dirk van Dierendonck Erasmus University Servant leadership is positioned as a new field of research for leadership scholars. This review deals with the historical background of servant leadership, its key characteristics, the available measurement tools, and the results of relevant studies that have been conducted so far. An overall conceptual model of servant leadership...
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...Biblical Integration Paper: Group 1 Paul Cobb Anastasie Destouche Jennifer Kearns Paul Pirkle Mark Ricker Liberty University Abstract Servant-leadership is widely researched and discussed from a secular and Christian worldview (Fischer, 2010; see also Blanchard & Hodges, 2005). A Christian is called to follow God in all he does but life experiences can be conflicting in dealing with the spiritual and secular context; however, Christ wants his followers to operate within the context of the secular world. True servant-leadership is to emulate how Jesus led those around him - with complete selflessness and by serving others. Moreover, it is challenging for humans to be servant-leaders as they often desire personal recognition in life; yet, dedication to the Word and quiet reflection in God can help one to lead like Jesus. Larry Spears labeled Greenleaf a Grandfather of empowerment movement in business leadership (Greenleaf, 1996) because of his zeal toward servant-leadership. Greenleaf’s viewpoint, though commendable, conflicts with biblical principles. Thus, this paper analyzes Greenleaf’s work from a Christian worldview and institutes a biblical basis for servant leadership. Keywords: servant leadership, biblical perspective, gifts, loving, individual Introduction Servant-leadership is widely researched and discussed from a secular and Christian worldview (Fischer, 2010; see also Blanchard & Hodges, 2005). Paul encouraged believers to be imitators...
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...Servant Leadership Opportunity Name Institutional Affiliations Date Question 1: Volunteering to help others has always been perceived as an altruistic behavioral model. However, a number of selfish motives, including the desire to please the people around you or engaging in what you value, have proven core driving forces behind most people’s willingness to volunteer. But, regardless of the motive, studies have established that volunteering enhances one’s happiness, general well-being and improves life, both of the volunteer and the one being served (O'Brien, 2010). I must admit from my personal experience that volunteering to serve others both works for the good of the volunteer and the one being helped. Quite significantly, through serving others one actually leads. My experience in volunteering has been fundamental both in improving my career skills and developing as a person. My desire to serve is significantly rooted on the fact I am a self-focused person and due to the fact that volunteering is the right thing to do. By being focused I posses an innate desire to learn novel things and acquire the most instrumental hands-on knowledge and skills (O'Brien, 2010). Volunteering also makes me feel better and find enhanced stability in life. With respect to personal development, through serving others, I have acquired new skills. I have also had the opportunity to test my capabilities as well as grow intellectually. Such attributes have been paramount in enhancing my leadership...
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...Servant Leadership at Work An analysis of servant leadership and how it applies to my work environment: identify what servant leadership is, what the differences are, and how it applies to personalities in the work environment. Questions: What is servant leadership? How does servant leadership apply to personalities in management? What are the positive attributes of servant leadership in a manager? What values are important in servant leadership? How effective is servant leadership in an organization? Servant Leadership at Work Spears (1996) explains servant leadership as one which is based on teamwork and community; one which seeks to involve others in decision making; one which is strongly based in ethical and caring behavior; and one which is enhancing the growth of people, while at the same time improving the caring and quality of our many institutions. The term “servant-leadership” was first coined in the 1970 essay by Robert K. Greenleaf entitled, The Servant as Leader (Stone). According to Dennis and Bocarnea (2005), “servant leaders are those who serve with a focus on the followers, whereby the followers are the primary concern and the organizational concerns are peripheral. The servant leader constructs are virtues, which are defined as the good moral quality in a person, or the general quality of goodness, or moral excellence”. This, I believe, is a very good description of servant leadership. What this says is that we must apply good moral qualities...
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...Relationship/Transformational Leadership These focus upon the connections formed between leaders & followers. Leaders who fall into this category help others see the good & importance of the task. These leaders are focused on the performance of group members. “A real leader faces the music even when he doesn’t like the tune (Arnold H. Glassgow)”. Contingency Theory This method of leadership focus on variables related to the environment that may determine which particular style of leadership is best suited for the predicament. Servant Leadership Servant Leadership is a somewhat paradoxical approach to leadership called servant leadership. Servant leadership emphasizes that leaders should be attentive to the concerns of their followers & empathise with them in a paternal way. Robert Greenleaf argued, “Leadership was bestowed on a person who was by nature a servant” Businesses believe who follow this theory believe this will make the individual more autonomous, knowledgeable. Analysis Entrepreneurs Indra K Nooyi Indra Nooyi is current chairman & CEO of food & beverage kingpin “PepsiCo”. As of May 2013 she was ranked in the top 10 most powerful women in the world according to Forbes (Forbes, 2013) Larry Page Larry Page is the co-founder of “Google” which is the world’s most popular Internet search engine. As of September 2013 Forbes ranked Larry Page as the 17th most powerful person on the planet (Forbes, 2013). Leadership Styles...
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...Change: Leadership Qualities that Transformed a Nation Abstract This study is an analysis of the essential leadership styles utilized by Mahatma Gandhi in his struggle to gain Indian independence from Great Britain. While his time in South Africa undoubtedly effected Gandhi’s decisions in India, this paper focuses primarily on the “Gandhian” era of India from 1915 to his death in 1948. This analysis does not progress chronologically throughout Gandhi’s life, rather, I examine several different events through the scope of his many different leadership qualities. Being the Change: Leadership Qualities that Transformed a Nation Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, lived from 1869 to 1948, and is better known as Mahatma meaning high-souled, or Bapu in India, which means Father. Gandhi is well known throughout history for leading India to independence through non-violent means. He is often regarded as one of the greatest leaders of all time, and the high esteem in which Gandhi is regarded is pretty much universally accepted throughout the world. What I’m interested in here, however, is determining what specific leadership skills Gandhi mastered in order to achieve not only independence from a harsh, oppressive superpower, but also, the salvation of his followers. That is the issue that I will explore in this glimpse into the life of possibly, the greatest leader the world has ever known. By looking at some specific events, I will show how Gandhi employed both servant, and transformational...
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...Learning Team B Leadership Analysis To become a leader in the 21st century requires the tenacity to embrace change. For example, how information is transmitted, and how resources are allocated requires visionary leaders who are equipped with a broad range of talents and temperaments. According to Clawson (2006), "the more organizations are built around teams; the more old measures of performance become outdated" (p. 241). Leadership in the 21st century requires the tenacity to embrace change, and have a broad range of talents and temperaments. According to Wren (1995), “the only thing of real importance that leaders do is to create and manage culture, and the unique talents of leaders is their ability to understand and work with culture” (p. 273). In the past 100 years, researchers have studied the means, methods, and models of building and leading teams. The research on leadership models and behaviors emerged through the modernization of manufacturing and production of goods and services. Studies included the study of biographical characteristics of members, such as sex, age, education, marital status, race, religious affiliation, geographic region of birth, weight, and height are some of the data collected (Bass, 2010, p. 7). Moreover, the purpose of this essay is to give an overview of the team’s online assessment scores and how each team member’s leadership style translates into specific leadership behaviors and practices. In addition to the overview...
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...MGT 5133: Management of Organizational Behavior The Servant Leader 2/16/2016 I. Introduction This essay will describe the true meaning of servant leadership. How the servant leader is inspired and performed his/her job within the health care organization? The paper will also inform readers of how each individual can unleash the servant within described by Larry Spears in his book “Reflections on Leadership.” Everyone has a deep need for serving, sometimes adults find it very difficult to unleash this desire to serve. Having worked in a large Hospital for over five years, it is easy to see why many people get frustrated and depart the health care industry. There are many complicated situations that happen working in healthcare. Throughout the majority of these situations between registered nurses, patient care technicians, and some doctors; there are solutions for dealing with most of those problems. Compassion, empathy, trustworthiness, faithfulness, respect, honesty, integrity, and rapport are all words that will be used frequently within the body of the paper. In my personal quest to better understand how to work well with people in a highly stressful environment as in healthcare, I begin to do my own research on process improvement and better systems that works in the hospitals. I turned my mind to various leadership books on healthcare and process improvements in the hospital setting. Some of the books I read was tremendously inspiring, interesting...
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