The Servant Chapter Summary

The book The Servant: A Simple Story About The True Essence of Leadership, written by James C. Hunter, brings out essential principles of leadership in a narrative story form. The story is about a man named John Daily who has lost his priorities as a boss and as a husband. His wife insisted he go on a week-long spiritual retreat at a Benedictine Monastery where he reluctantly agreed, but had an experience that turned his life around. John’s experience in one short week at the monastery is profound and life changing. Each day at the monastery John and five other individuals from various walks of life such as a nurse, a soldier, a pastor, a college basketball coach and a school principal that spend several hours learning about leadership. Their instructor is a monk named Simeon. Simeon is no stranger to leadership, as prior to coming to the monastery Simeon was known by his given name Len Hoffman, he was a legendary business man who not made millions in his own businesses. The thoughts and …show more content…
“Leadership is defined as the skill of influence people to work devotedly towards in identified common good” (p.28). Ultimately, leadership is about character and the most appropriate style which depends on the function of the leader, the followers, and the situation. There are many styles of leadership, such as the servant and command and control leadership style. In building the frameworks and styles is to have awareness to help develop an approach in order to become a more effective leader. The servant leadership style helps addresses the responsibilities and relationships in organizations, committee, or community. This style often places service to others before self-interest and tends to meet the needs of the team. The command and control style is how it sounds, the approach is authoritative and uses a “top-down” approach, which exudes power in a bureaucratic