Transcript Servant Leadership - Southwestern University

Today we will cover
 What is Servant Leadership
 History of Servant Leadership
 Characteristics of Servant Leadership
 5 Ways of Being
 The Key to Servant Leadership
 Reflection & Workshop
What is Servant Leadership?
 It is a philosophy and practice of leadership coined in
1904 by Robert K. Greenleaf.
 It was never defined by Greenleaf because leadership
and service are always in flux.
 However, Greenleaf did say that it requires a spiritual
understanding of identity, mission, vision and
environment.
 A servant leader is someone who is servant first, who
has responsibility to be in the world, and so he
contributes to the well-being of people and
community.
What is Servant Leadership
 A servant leader looks to the needs of the people and asks
himself how he can help them to solve problems and
promote personal development. He places his main focus
on people, because only content and motivated people are
able to reach their targets and to fulfill the set expectations.
 “It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve,
to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to
lead. That person is sharply different from one who is
leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an
unusual power drive or to acquire material
possessions…The leader-first and the servant-first are two
extreme types. Between them there are shadings and
blends that are part of the infinite variety of human
nature.” Greenleaf, Servant Leadership, 1977.
What is Servant Leadership?
 Servant-leaders achieve results for their organizations by giving
priority attention to the needs of their colleagues and those they
serve. Servant-leaders are often seen as humble stewards of their
organization's resources (human, financial and physical).
 Servant Leadership is not a concept or a principle. It is an inner
standard of living.
 Some may suggest that servant leaders are weak. However,
nothing could be further from the truth. They model integrity,
where their thoughts, words and actions flow from a consistent
desire.
 Servant leaders are not leaders on the basis of their position or
leadership role, but rather lead according to their calling, vision
and principles.
History of Servant Leadership
 Greenleaf got the idea for Servant Leadership after reading
Herman Hesse’s Journey to the East.
 Jesus Christ is often referenced as the perfect model of
servant leadership.
 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in
humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of
you should look not only to your own interests, but also to
the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as
that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not
consider equality with God something to be grasped, but
made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. And being found in
appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became
obedient to death-even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:3-8
Characteristics of Servant
Leadership
 Larry Spears, CEO of the Robert K. Greenleaf Center for
Servant Leadership has identified 10 characteristics that are
central to the development of a servant leader:
 1. Listening – A servant leader is motivated to listen to those
around him, including to what is not being said.
 2. Empathy – A servant leader attempts to understand others,
and sees them as people who need respect.
 3. Healing - A servant leader tries to help people solving their
problems and conflicts in relationships, because he wants to
develop the skills of each individual.
 4. Awareness – A servant leader looks to gain general
awareness as well as self-awareness. Therefore he has the
ability to view the situations from a more holistic view.
Characteristics of Servant
Leadership
 5. Persuasion – A servant leader does not use power or
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influence over others, he tries to convince people.
6. Conceptualization – A servant leader sees beyond the dayto-day and can focus on long ranging goals.
7. Foresight – This is ability to foresee the likely outcome of a
situation. It enables the servant leader to learn about the past
and to achieve a better understanding about the current
reality.
8. Stewardship – The servant leader sees their organization as
a way to help and serve others.
9. Commitment to the growth of people - A servant leader is
convinced that people have an intrinsic value beyond their
contributions as workers.
10. Building Community – A servant leader identifies the
means to create a true community.
5 Ways of Being
 James Autry’s book identified 5 ways of being that will
move you toward an unswerving attitude of service:
 Be Authentic
 Be Vulnerable
 Be Accepting
 Be Present
 Be Useful
The Key to Servant Leadership
 The key to Servant Leadership is compassion.
 It means compassion for those you are serving and
those who are serving with you.
 Servant Leadership is a mutually beneficial
experience.
 Leadership is not an affair of the head, it is an affair of
the heart.
Reflection & Workshop
 Why is Servant Leadership important?
 What is Servant Leadership to me?
 How am I practicing Servant Leadership?
 How is my chapter practicing Servant Leadership?
 How can we improve our Servant Leadership?