Examples Of Servant Leadership In Togo

Servant Leadership in Togo: Will it Work?

Kokouvi Jacques Wemegan

Reverend Steven Buchele

Leadership I

May 5 2017

PART A

Servant leadership in the words of Larry Pears, is an approach “based on teamwork and community […], one that is attempting to enhance the personal growth of workers while improving the […] quality of many institutions” (Spears & Lawrence, 2002). According to Robert Greenleaf in his book Servant as Leader, “ where there is no community, trust, respect, ethical behavior are difficult for the young to learn and for the old to maintain.”(2012). Although van Dierendonck (2011), says that Greenleaf did not give an exact definition for servant leadership, it can be derived from the quotes above that, Servant Leadership

The following quote proves it. “Since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved”(Machiavelli, 1625). A Machiavellian leader only cares for his power and, in that respect, primarily uses fear as a tool to maintain it over others. Servant Leaders, however, make the improvement others their priority. Spears’ characteristics of a servant leader shows it. People-driven qualities such as “empathy, persuasive[ness]” are needed to be a Servant Leader; one also needs to be “commit[ed] to the growth of others” (Spears & Lawrence, 2002). These qualities are none a Machiavellian leader needs.

As stated above, Machiavellian leadership focuses on the retention of power over everything else at any cost. This philosophy makes it really inneffective to achieve the greater good. An example is Togo, that will be discussed later. It’s previoous president Gnassingbe is a perfect example of machiavellian leader before his death in 2005.Whiteman called Gnassingbe Eyadema “the dictator [that] always inspired immense fear” and also claimed that he “ultimately always used force”(2005).

PART

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