The issue of leadership is seen as being multifaceted and one of the main issues organizational leaders are facing today is how to motivate staff to actively participate. Greenleaf explores the role of servant as leader and servant leadership in business as a theoretical framework that supports a leader’s motivation and role as service to others (Smith, p. 3). The theory of Servant Leadership, as Smith argues has proven its competence as a practical and theoretical approach to organizational management (Smith, p. 12) and focuses on the inner values of a leader, rather than external techniques portrayed as being difficult for companies to use on a practical level. Servant leadership is about serving others and begins with “the feeling that
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Smith believes that servant leadership qualities can only arise from the “selfless, others-directed motivation that resides within the leader” (p. 5) and this servant-leadership model can only be achieved by analyzing one’s personal belief systems and reasons for wanting to lead (p. 5). Servant leadership through Greenleaf’s eyes stresses certain central personal qualities and beliefs over any specific leadership practices, which have been identified as: listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of people, and building community. There have been many researchers who have supported Greenleaf’s theory of servant-leadership and have even compared it to transformational leadership, a theory which focuses on “extraordinary characteristics and its humanistic valuation of followers” (p. 9). While having similarities, these theories are also quite different in that servant-leadership puts a greater emphasis on people over production, and transformational leadership places a greater importance on production over people and as such, results in different measures of success for the two theoretical frameworks …show more content…
Quality leadership is needed at every level in society and throughout all organizations. Servant-leadership in complex and competitive organizations can achieve high organization performance by understanding the characteristics of such organizations. At an organizational level, leadership is able to convey to all employees the direction of the organization, fostering a better understanding of effective leaders as a key factor for the future development of the organization. I believe that in order for an organization to maintain a competitive edge, it must be able to adapt and change in order to improve processes and leadership is a key component to achieving these outcomes. In business, competitors are able to mirror many of the same type of services, products and go after the same markets and customers. However, where it becomes difficult for competitors to easily duplicate is servant leadership and the awareness that people are an organization’s true competitive advantage. An organization’s workforce can help build a positive environment where employee’s skills, talents and ideas help to develop others and grow the organization. Servant leaders are able to create an environment of mutual trust and respect between leadership and employees and can help employees reach their potential. They know
Smith believes that servant leadership qualities can only arise from the “selfless, others-directed motivation that resides within the leader” (p. 5) and this servant-leadership model can only be achieved by analyzing one’s personal belief systems and reasons for wanting to lead (p. 5). Servant leadership through Greenleaf’s eyes stresses certain central personal qualities and beliefs over any specific leadership practices, which have been identified as: listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of people, and building community. There have been many researchers who have supported Greenleaf’s theory of servant-leadership and have even compared it to transformational leadership, a theory which focuses on “extraordinary characteristics and its humanistic valuation of followers” (p. 9). While having similarities, these theories are also quite different in that servant-leadership puts a greater emphasis on people over production, and transformational leadership places a greater importance on production over people and as such, results in different measures of success for the two theoretical frameworks …show more content…
Quality leadership is needed at every level in society and throughout all organizations. Servant-leadership in complex and competitive organizations can achieve high organization performance by understanding the characteristics of such organizations. At an organizational level, leadership is able to convey to all employees the direction of the organization, fostering a better understanding of effective leaders as a key factor for the future development of the organization. I believe that in order for an organization to maintain a competitive edge, it must be able to adapt and change in order to improve processes and leadership is a key component to achieving these outcomes. In business, competitors are able to mirror many of the same type of services, products and go after the same markets and customers. However, where it becomes difficult for competitors to easily duplicate is servant leadership and the awareness that people are an organization’s true competitive advantage. An organization’s workforce can help build a positive environment where employee’s skills, talents and ideas help to develop others and grow the organization. Servant leaders are able to create an environment of mutual trust and respect between leadership and employees and can help employees reach their potential. They know