Servant Leadership was first coined by Robert K. Greenleaf in his 1970 essay, ‘The Servant as Leader’. The concept of servant leadership transpired from Hermann Hesse’s ‘Journey to the East’; the tale of a group of men accompanied by their servant, Leo, on a mythical journey. Leo did menial tasks but also kept the group in high spirts with song, until one day Leo disappeared and the group fall apart and the journey is abandoned. For Greenleaf, this tale told that a great leader is seen as a servant first. Leo was indeed the leader all along, however he was servant to his followers first. (Greenleaf, 2012)
The most used definition of servant leadership is from Greenleaf (1970): “[Servant leadership] begins with the natural feeling that one …show more content…
Chanakya; Chinese thinks and politican wrote, “the leader shall consider as good not what pleases him but what pleases his subjects...”.
He praises the recent return of this concept and credits the successful leaders of today as those who hold these characteristics.
Mycoskie mentions his developing view of leadership styles; at the beginning of starting his business he aimed to become “a rock-star business leader...the typical cult CEO”. On learning more about business and gaining further experience this ambition dissolved, instead the aim to lead with “a softer, more human touch”. Part of this aim was to ensure that everyone in the organization felt a beginning and attachment to TOMS, to the extent that everyone can be a spokesperson for the organization.
“A leader can create a company, but a community creates a movement.”
Greenleaf’s new type of leadership model emphasises the concept of serving others- from employees, to customers, to society- as the focus. The holistic approach to work creates a community and a distribution of power. Servant leadership is not a “quick fix” approach, it is a long term commitment and transformational approach to not only work, but to life – a way of being – which can provide positive change in society (Spears & Lawrence,
The most used definition of servant leadership is from Greenleaf (1970): “[Servant leadership] begins with the natural feeling that one …show more content…
Chanakya; Chinese thinks and politican wrote, “the leader shall consider as good not what pleases him but what pleases his subjects...”.
He praises the recent return of this concept and credits the successful leaders of today as those who hold these characteristics.
Mycoskie mentions his developing view of leadership styles; at the beginning of starting his business he aimed to become “a rock-star business leader...the typical cult CEO”. On learning more about business and gaining further experience this ambition dissolved, instead the aim to lead with “a softer, more human touch”. Part of this aim was to ensure that everyone in the organization felt a beginning and attachment to TOMS, to the extent that everyone can be a spokesperson for the organization.
“A leader can create a company, but a community creates a movement.”
Greenleaf’s new type of leadership model emphasises the concept of serving others- from employees, to customers, to society- as the focus. The holistic approach to work creates a community and a distribution of power. Servant leadership is not a “quick fix” approach, it is a long term commitment and transformational approach to not only work, but to life – a way of being – which can provide positive change in society (Spears & Lawrence,