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Strength and weaknesses of servant leadership.
reflection on leadership theories
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Connecting Leadership Theory and Christian Ministry
"And the winner is…” Much of life involves competition of some sort. Candidates compete in athletic events, educational competitions such as spelling bees, or for seeking that next job which offers a higher salary and better benefits. In recent decades, the field of leadership has seen similar efforts. The idea of leadership is not a new one, however a number of models have been proposed with the hope that a more effective system might be found. Of course the circumstances and dynamics of each situation are unique. Consequently, finding the most appropriate leadership model for any particular structure requires a careful analysis. The three leadership models considered were: the being-centered leadership model, the spiritual leadership model, and the servant-leadership model. A critique of the three separate models identified servant-leadership as the most suitable theory for the unique characteristics of Christian ministry.
Leadership Models Analyzed
As the name implies, being-centered leadership approaches leadership on the basis of being, as opposed doing or having (Fry, & Kriger, 2009). This model is composed of five levels, with each higher level containing in the levels below (Fry, & Kriger, 2009). Fry, & Kriger (2009) describe these levels as both ontological (state of being), and epistemological (state of knowing). An epistemological (knowing) ascent through these levels appears as: Level V or sensible/ physical, Level IV or images, imagination, Level III or soul, Level II or spirit, and Level I or non-dual (Fry, & Kriger, 2009). As the leader comes to understand the next level, he can then begin to ontologically “be” in that level. For the sake of clarity, these level...
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...al of Business Ethics, 105, 107-114. doi:10.1007/s10551-011-0953-3
Chung, Y. (2011). Why servant leadership? Its uniqueness and principles in the life of Jesus. Journal Of Asia Adventist Seminary, 14(2), 159-170.
Ekundayo, J., Damhoeri, K., & Ekundayo, S. (2010). Presenting the servant leadership model as a panacea to bad leadership in tertiary education in West Africa. Academic Leadership, 8(4), 34.
Fry, L. (2003). Towards a theory of spiritual leadership. The Leadership Quarterly, 14(6), 693-727.
Fry, L., & Kriger, M. (2009). Towards a theory of being-centered leadership: Multiple levels of being as context for effective leadership. Human Relations, 62(11), 1667-1696. doi:10.1177/0018726709346380
Sweeney, P., & Fry, L. (2012). Character development through spiritual leadership. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice & Research, 64(2), 89-107. doi:10.1037/a0028966
Servant leadership, as defined by Kretiner and Kinkicki (2015, p.486), is putting the needs of others, including employees, customers, and community ahead of one’s own needs. This management style requires selflessness and humility from management so the organization can focus on serving key stakeholders. There are ten characteristics of a servant-leader as identified in the text
Servant leadership is a philosophy and set of practices that augments the lives of individuals, builds better organizations, and creates a more just and caring world, they put the team first, and themselves second (MindTools, 2015). Servant leaders are able to demonstrate their traits through interaction with followers and other leaders within the organization. The characteristics of servant leaders include their commitment to the growth of people, stewardship, and building community, and provide leaders with the opportunity to experience change and to invite followers to change (Savage-Austin & Honeycutt 2011). Servant leadership encourages leaders and followers to ‘raise one another to higher levels of motivation and morality’, and set their leadership focus: follower’s first, organizations second, their own needs last (Sendjaya, Sarros, & Santora, 2008). The servant leader focuses on the needs of others to include team members.
The Servant Leader discusses the importance of leaders who adopt a service oriented attitude in which they care for the needs of others before their own. A servant leader need not be an actual servant or have ever been a servant to become a servant leader. Rather, a servant leader is born with or adopts an “others first” disposition. Climbing through the ranks may help to create a servant leader, though it is not necessary. When leaders choose to see that the needs of their followers or their organizations are the highest priority they become servants.
3). Through the service of others, servants as leaders create positive changes in the lives of others that lead those served to act more autonomously (Block, Blanchard, Wheatley & Autry, 2006). The goal of a service leader is to help others achieve their highest level of functioning. Those served are then motivated to become service leaders as well (Block, Blanchard, Wheatley & Autry, 2006). Thus, servant leadership focuses on commitment to helping the individual served grow in their abilities. In turn this gives the served individual confidence in their work and personal abilities which then transforms into a desire to help others do the
Kouzes, J., & Posner, B., (2007). The leadership challenge, (4th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-
Although written for church leadership, everyday church members would also benefit from understanding the concepts that Dawn is directing at God-empowered leaders. Ms. Dawn's work is predominantly scholarly, and she cites several other works at great length.... ... middle of paper ... ...
Servant leadership consists of leaders helping their followers become leaders themselves. The use personal skills such as empathy, compassion and listening to help their followers succeed. It is not necessarily the most popular form of leadership but, it has been proven successful b those leaders who implement it in their work practices. Servant leaders typically have a strong bond with their team. They are the base and the foundation of their teams.
In today’s society, Effective leaders are essential to an organization and exceptional leadership techniques impact the success of reaching goals. Most important leaders often viewed and analyzed as a key component of an organization improperly trained leader can cause both moral and costly negative consequences. Even though unprepared leaders lead in our community today, Billy Graham’s leadership style and communication skills affected the United States because he exhibits characteristic of a leader. There were several obstacles as a leader that Billy Graham endured as a visionary, and his leadership effectiveness and traits observed throughout his ministry.
Crippen, C., (2005). "Servant-Leadership as an effective model for educational leadership and management: first to serve, then to lead." Management in Education (Education Publishing Worldwide Ltd) 18(5), 11-16. Retrieved from EBSCOhost on August 10, 2011.
Wilkes, C. G. Jesus on Leadership: Timeless Wisdom on Servant Leadership. Carol Stream, Illnois: Tyndale House, 1998.
Young, D. S. (1999). Servant Leadership for Church Renewal: Sheperds By the Living Springs. Scottdale: Herald Press.
Kouzes, J., & Posner, B. (2008). The leadership challenge. 4th ed. San Francisco, CA Jossey-Bass. ISBN: 9780787984915
In society and culture, leadership has the paradigm of a great and powerful person, who makes change in a miraculous and unconventional way. Since the beginning of time, people have completed heroic acts against evil and sin, but in many cases it is those who have the lesser appearance and humble disposition who have established the greatest acts of heroism. In the Bible, the Israelites and Hebrews waited for God to send a high and mighty king to save them from the oppression of the Roman government, but instead they were blessed with a little baby boy, born of poor parents who grew up to be a carpenter, yet won over death giving all humanity the opportunity to save the most important aspect of life; their soul. Leaders are always are depicted as government officials or society’s finest, but it is more important to treasure and follow a leader whose life you can duplicate because of their character, because their life pushes you to be better and elevates you to be a better person. Jesus Christ not only is the greatest leader of the church, but has the greatest life for society and humanity to pursue.
Stroup, J. (2004). Managing leadership: toward a new and usable understanding of what leadership is and how to manage it. Lincoln, NE. iUniverse, Inc. Retrieved July 20, 2011 from http://managingleadership.com/blog/2008/09/04/great-man-theory/
Northouse, P. (2010). Leadership: Theory and practice (5th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.