Servant Leadership Case Study

Transformationally Adapting Servant Leadership: A Leadership Theory Application Mitten Guardianship Agency (MGA) is a nonprofit organization that supports their community by providing guardianship, conservatorship, payee, and special needs trust services. MGA’s goal is to assist those who are unable to care for themselves while simultaneously preserving their independence and dignity. My role in the organization was an intern in the legal department. In 2012, MGA went through a leadership change when the executive director was unexpectedly (seemingly) fired by the board of directors. Interim leadership was brought in, which effected MGA staff negatively. The interim leader created, intentionally or not, in-groups and out-groups, which caused disconnect among the different departments and the team overall. In 2013, a new executive director arrived to an unwelcoming and hesitant constituency in need of repair and rejuvenation. In attempt to pull MGA’s constituents toward a rewarding and progressive future, three leadership theories come to mind: Transformational Leadership, Adaptive Leadership, and Servant Leadership. These

180). Secondly, I would hold a team meeting during the first week to introduce myself. In this meeting I would provide breakfast and coffee as a gesture of informality in hope that it would encourage open discussion—a casual meal conversation. The discussion would be geared toward topics of difficulty in change, especially at the leadership level, and what MGA was doing right and what they could improve on. Equipped with the responses of the team, my reflections, and the mission of the organization, I would create a vision for the company. The intent of the vision would be to bring the constituents together under shared