Having an attitude of servitude is essential to Servant Leadership. Researchers suggest that individuals motivated by a desire to assist others tend to lean toward the servant model of leadership (Burch, Swails, Mills, 2015). Greenleaf (1977) explained that “The servant-leader is servant first...It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then the conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first” (p. 27). According to Greenleaf (1998), servant leaders invest a great deal of time and energy in understanding follower's interests, capabilities, and career goals, as they are genuinely concerned and consider subordinates' growth a priority.
Burch, Swails, Mills, sought to identify how the top four leaders at a Midwest Christian university perceived the strengths and weaknesses of their servant leadership skills. These perceptions were then compared to how followers understood the same administrators’ leadership traits, strengths and weaknesses. A survey instrument was used to measure leadership perceptions from two groups, leaders and followers.
The survey responses reflected both servant-leadership quality strengths and weaknesses. Among the twenty-one traits …show more content…
However, it is not necessarily considered to affect individual performance. Since the servant leadership model is noted as being a model for those with altruistic endeavors to serve others, it might seem appropriate that librarians adopt this type of leadership style. However, as Blanchard and Hodges point out, leaders that fail to identify and respond to followers interpersonal needs, mentoring, empowering and motivating, qualities often associated with transformational leadership, may “bring frustration and inefficiency into any leadership effort” (p.
Burch, Swails, Mills, sought to identify how the top four leaders at a Midwest Christian university perceived the strengths and weaknesses of their servant leadership skills. These perceptions were then compared to how followers understood the same administrators’ leadership traits, strengths and weaknesses. A survey instrument was used to measure leadership perceptions from two groups, leaders and followers.
The survey responses reflected both servant-leadership quality strengths and weaknesses. Among the twenty-one traits …show more content…
However, it is not necessarily considered to affect individual performance. Since the servant leadership model is noted as being a model for those with altruistic endeavors to serve others, it might seem appropriate that librarians adopt this type of leadership style. However, as Blanchard and Hodges point out, leaders that fail to identify and respond to followers interpersonal needs, mentoring, empowering and motivating, qualities often associated with transformational leadership, may “bring frustration and inefficiency into any leadership effort” (p.