Robert K. Greenleaf, the man known for coining the concept of “servant leadership,” had spent years working for telecommunications company, AT&T, and who later grew weary of the traditional authoritarian leadership style endemic to many organisations of his day, left to set up his own firm to promote servant leadership. That’s the kind of leader that others follow! If a team member’s talking, give them your full focus and attention—no interruption allowed! By putting other people’s needs first, he was able to leave a lasting legacy, which proves that anyone can make a difference through a humble and serving perspective. While traditional leadership is focused on helping an organization thrive, servant leaders put the needs of their employees first. Both of these servant leaders have the ability to look ahead and take a wider view of the situation. But servant leadership also brings the potential to witness to others and demonstrate Jesus in ways other positions wouldn’t have fully allowed. What strikes me about Greenleaf’s best test is that it’s not about organizational charts, reporting relationships or formal hierarchy. He has developed a genuine desire to understand other people’s problems and to work out realistic solutions. 10 key principles of servant leadership. His protests were peaceful, where he often did it through logical discourse and fasting. So what does it take to be a servant leader? I … Those who are listed above are not the only servant leaders out there; as there are countless others who just do not like themselves to be heard of, which is how servant leaders typically like it. 6: Sells instead of tells. The notion of servant leadership … 60. A servant-leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. Leadership might seem intimidating. 7: Thinks you, not me. A lot of responsibility goes into it. The best-kept secret of successful leaders is love: staying in love with leading, with the people who do the work, with what their organizations produce, and with those who honor the organization by using its work.” Since you’re here, we’d like to ask you to consider donating to the maintenance and upkeep of our site, A leader with a servant’s heart is a truly invaluable asset, and everyone in a leadership position should seek to adopt this type of mentality. Instead, his goal was to bring about independence in a way that minimises the suffering of his people, while allowing them to preserve their culture and heritage. Inspired by his religious principles, Tutu strongly advocated a non-violent resolution which emphasised mutual forgiveness. The seven characteristics of servant leadership affect nursing culture impacts patient care. Servant leaders consider themselves to be the steward of an organisation, rather than an owner or director. Like other servant leaders, she had her critics from time to time, but there was no one who could question her motives behind her desire to help others. The TRC was headed by Desmond Tutu, Archbishop of Cape Town. Bhd. A. researchers have been unable to reach a consensus on a common definition. You must really like us. Many do not have access to the resources needed to bring out their full leadership potential. There are ten characteristics of servant leaders which are as follows; “listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, … For the South Africans, it was about putting aside racial, political and tribal differences, to achieve economic and social development. While traditional leadership generally involves the accumulation and exercise of power by one at the “top of the pyramid,” servant leadership is different. All rights reserved. Photo credit: South Africa The Good News | Flickr. At the thriving companies you admire, the chances are good that there is a servant leader at the helm. That’s how I’ve tried to lead in the business world, non-profit organizations and the church. I believe that the best way to lead is through servant leadership, which was demonstrated by Jesus. 1: Values diverse opinions. Jesus: The Ultimate Servant Leader. Robert Greenleaf published his essay “The Servant as Leader” in 1970, effectively coining the term “servant leader.”. In brief, servant leaders practise the following maxims: be compassionate, see the bigger picture, and nurture others. which as it turns out is pretty expensive. Healthcare bellwether Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ ) is among the most renowned firms embracing a … Servant leaders are individuals who have a strong desire to serve first, before being chosen to lead others. This is associated with an ability to get people moving together towards a common purpose without the use of formal authority. Various advocates of servant leadership include big names such as Robert K. Greenleaf, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr, Lao Tzu, etc. By employing this method, he led peaceful protests against the British colonisers. Here are 10 characteristics and traits that distinguishes a servant leader from the more traditional ones. One criticism of servant leadership is _____. The servant leadership philosophy and practices have been expressed in many ways and applied in many contexts. It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve first.’” A servant leader focuses first on the growth and well-being of their employees, as a means of achieving success for customers, shareholders, and themselves. Servant leadership works best when _____. Nelson Mandela (in yellow). 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