Servant Leadership

Definition

Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy and practice that focuses on the leader's role in serving and empowering their followers, rather than asserting control or pursuing their own agenda. It emphasizes the leader's responsibility to support, develop, and empower their team members to achieve shared goals.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Servant leaders prioritize the needs and development of their followers over their own self-interest, aiming to empower and enable their team to succeed.
2. Servant leadership promotes a culture of trust, collaboration, and shared decision-making, where leaders and followers work together to achieve common goals.
3. Servant leaders are often characterized by their humility, empathy, and a deep commitment to the growth and well-being of their followers.
4. Servant leadership is particularly relevant in the 21st century, as organizations increasingly value employee engagement, innovation, and adaptability.
5. The skills needed for effective servant leadership include active listening, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and the ability to coach and mentor others.

Review Questions

• Explain how servant leadership relates to the concept of ethical leadership at the organizational level.
  • Servant leadership and ethical leadership are closely aligned, as both emphasize the importance of leaders prioritizing the needs and well-being of their followers and the broader community. Servant leaders, through their focus on empowering and developing their team, foster a culture of trust, integrity, and social responsibility, which are essential for ethical decision-making and organizational practices. By putting the interests of others before their own, servant leaders demonstrate a strong ethical foundation and serve as role models for ethical behavior throughout the organization.
• Describe how servant leadership relates to the nature of leadership and the key leadership needs in the 21st century.
  • Servant leadership represents a fundamental shift in the traditional view of leadership, moving away from a top-down, command-and-control approach towards a more collaborative and empowering model. In the 21st century, as organizations face increasing complexity, rapid change, and the need for innovation, servant leadership aligns well with the evolving nature of leadership. Servant leaders, with their emphasis on fostering employee engagement, adaptability, and a shared sense of purpose, are well-positioned to address the critical leadership needs of the modern workplace, such as promoting agility, facilitating knowledge-sharing, and cultivating a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Analyze how the skills needed for effective servant leadership, such as active listening, emotional intelligence, and coaching, relate to the skills required for managing teams and individuals (MTI).
  • The skills associated with servant leadership, such as active listening, emotional intelligence, and coaching, are directly relevant to the skills needed for effective management of teams and individuals (MTI). Servant leaders, through their focus on empowering and developing their followers, require a strong set of interpersonal and people management skills. Active listening allows servant leaders to deeply understand the needs and concerns of their team members, while emotional intelligence enables them to build trust, navigate conflicts, and foster a collaborative work environment. The coaching and mentoring skills of servant leaders are essential for unlocking the potential of individual team members and helping them grow both professionally and personally, which is a key aspect of effective MTI. By cultivating these servant leadership skills, managers can create a more engaged, motivated, and high-performing workforce.

Related terms

Transformational Leadership:

A leadership approach that inspires and motivates followers to achieve extraordinary outcomes by appealing to their higher-order needs and values.

Ethical Leadership:

A leadership style that prioritizes integrity, fairness, and concern for employees and the broader community in decision-making and organizational practices.

Authentic Leadership:

A leadership approach that emphasizes self-awareness, transparency, and a focus on developing the potential of followers.