Q & A on Servant Leadership for Personal Reflection!

Q.     1.  Who came up with the leadership concept of “servant leadership”; what is its history?

Servant leadership as a leadership theory is about four decades old. However, as a leadership concept, it has been in existence since Bible times. Hackman & Johnson (2004) trace its history and define the importance of this leadership theory:

Contemporary interest in leaders as servants was sparked off by Robert Greenleaf. He coined the term “Servant-Leader” in1970 to describe a leadership model that puts the concerns of followers first. Greenleaf later founded a center to promote servant-leadership. His ideas have been adopted by businesses …., non-profit organizations, and community and service-learning programs. Servant-leaders put the needs of the followers before their own.” (Leadership: A Communication Perspective, 4^th ed. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press, Inc., p. 32)

Cunningham, in his 2008 doctoral dissertation, sheds more light on the origin of servant leadership. He also links it directly to its biblical roots:

The term “servant-leadership” first appeared in the leadership literature in the 1970s. It is attributed to Robert Greenleaf, “who believed that effective leadership emerges from a desire to help others” (Marzano et al., 2005, p. 16). Greenleaf, who is considered the father of servant-leadership, coined the term in 1970 (Spears, 1995), after reading Hermen Hesse’s story Journey to the East. In the story, the main character (Leo) considered himself a servant even though he was the leader of an Order. However, the practice of servant-leadership tenets may in fact date to a much earlier time (Marzano et al., 2005; Spears, 1995) as during his recount of Jesus Christ’s last days, Mark quotes Jesus saying, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all”(NIV, 1994, p. 1067).

Q.     2. What is servant leadership?

As already noted in its history, Servant Leadership is concerned about serving others and taking care of their needs. Thus, it is other-oriented rather self-centered. McCuddy and Cavin, referencing Greenleaf, note that the servant leader is one who serves first, and by whom those served “while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants.” This is in line with Patterson’s identification and definition of servant leaders:

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.

Q.      3. What are the characteristics and/or constructs of servant leadership?

“Operationally, servant leadership has been characterized according to ten points: active listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to growth, and community-building (McCuddy & Cavin quoting Larry Spears who articulated them as a recapitulation of Greenleaf’s work). The co-authors indicate that the ten characteristics of servant leadership “proffer a framework for the identification and measurement of servant leadership characteristics within an individual [servant-leader].”

 As a follow-up to the work of  Larry Spears, other researchers such as Patterson, a professor at Regent University, have done extensive studies on servant leadership. In her doctoral dissertation, Patterson made known seven component constructs or virtues of servant leadership. According to Patterson, a servant leader serves and leads with:

1.       agapao love, and

2.       acts of humility, and

3.       is altruistic

4.       is visionary for the followers

5.       is trusting

6.       is serving, and

7.       empowers followers.

Q.     4. What’s unique about servant leadership over other forms of leadership?

One of the unique features of servant leadership is its ability to combine both service and leadership. Those who serve are granted leadership by the led by virtue of the fact that they are servants at heart.

Even though there are differences in the way servant leadership maybe viewed or articulated, all researchers are in agreement in terms of its relevance. In each case, they lift up “servant leadership as a practice antithetical to autocratic leadership in an organizational setting.” This is due to the fact that, servant leadership characteristics have significant impact on the individual’s ability to effectively lead others and serve the organization, community, or context.” (McCuddy & Cavin).

References:

1.       Bible. New International Version. 1994, p. 1067

2.       Cunningham, Ryan L. (2008). "An examination of the relationship between servant-leadership behavior of the elementary school principal, school climate and student achievement as measured by the 4th grade Mathematics and Reading Michigan Educational Assessment Program.”  Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. Paper 139. http://commons.emich.edu/theses/139

3.       Hackman. M. Z. & Johnson, C.E. (2004). Leadership: A Communication Perspective (4^th ed.). Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press, Inc., p. 32

4.       McCuddy & Cavin. Online resource.

5.       Patterson, K. (2003), “Servant leadership: a theoretical model”, unpublished doctoral dissertation, Graduate School of Business, Regent University.