2. DEFINITION:
"The servant-leader is servant first… 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,1970)
VISHNU S
3. ORIGIN OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP
375 B.C. Chanakya’s Arthashastra:
The [leader] shall consider as good, not what pleases himself but
what pleases his subjects.
600 B.C. Lao Tzu:
The greatest leader forgets himself and attends to the development
of others.
First Century A.D., Jesus of Nazareth:
But the greatest among you shall be your servant (Matthew 23:11);
The one who is the greatest among you must become like the
youngest, and the leader like the servant. (Luke 22:26)
1970’s Robert K. Greenleaf:
The servant-leader is servant first… It begins with the natural feeling
that one wants to serve, to serve first.
VISHNU S
4. Robert K. Greenleaf
• Born in 1904. Died
1990
• Quaker with a strong
contemplative
orientation
• Director of
management at AT&T
for over 38 years
• Best known for
founding the modern
Servant leadership
theory
VISHNU S
5. TEN Characteristics of a Servant Leader
Servant
Leader
Listening
Empathy
Healing
Stewar
dship
Commit
ment to
People
Buildin
g
Commu
nity
Awareness
Persuasion
Conceptualizati
on
Foresight
VISHNU S
6. Listen and
Understand#1
Listening- “a critical
communication tool, necessary for
accurate communication and for
actively demonstrating respect for
others”
The managers need to be able to
listen to what his/her employees
have to sayVISHNU S
7. #2
show
Empathy
Empathy- “the ability to mentally
project one’s own consciousness into
that of another individual” (Smith, 5)
The manages need to empathize with
the employees in an attempt to
understand what they are wanting or
needing.VISHNU S
8. #3
Lend a
helping
Hand OR
HEALING
Healing- “to make whole”
The manager needs to be able to make
the entire department whole as this
will help them to better understand
the goings on in the department
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9. be aware
#4
Awareness- “without awareness, we
miss leadership opportunities”
The manager needs to make sure to be
aware of what is going on in the
department along with being aware of
any sensitive issues that there may be
VISHNU S
10. be
Persuasive
#5 Persuasion- “the effective servant-
leader build group consensus through
gentle but clear and persistent
persuasion, and does not exert group
compliance through the position of
power
The managers need to be able to
persuade the department as a way to
be able to make decisions and be an
authority figure
VISHNU S
11. #6
dream Great OR Conceptualization
Conceptualization- “conceive
solutions to problems that do not
currently exist”
Department managers need to plan
for the future and have a visions or
goal for what the future may hold.
VISHNU S
12. #7
Think
Ahead OR Foresight
Foresight- “prescience, or foresight, is
a better than average guess about
what is going to happen in the future”
This characteristic builds off
conceptualization
Managers need to be able to see what
could be a likely outcome for a
situation that may have occurred
before in the past, as well as
anticipate the realities of the present
and any unseen consequences of the
futureVISHNU S
13. #8
Be a
Steward
Stewardship- “organizational
stewards, or trustees are concerned
not only for the individual followers
within the group, but also the
organization as a whole, and its
impact on relationship with all
society”
The managers need to hold the main
goal of the department above their
own personal goals
VISHNU S
14. #9
Grow. Grow. Grow.
Grow. OR
Commitment to the
growth
Commitment to the growth of people-
“a demonstrated appreciation and
encouragement of others”
The managers need to dedicate ample
time and energy to the overall well
being of the employees in the
department as well as any individuals
they may serve.
VISHNU S
15. Build
community
#10 Community Building- “the rise of
large institutions has eroded
community, the social pact that
reunites individuals in a society”
The managers need to be able to
provide a work environment that is
full of people that are diverse in
nature, but all strive to fulfill the same
goal.
VISHNU S
17. “We must be the
change
we wish to see.”
– Mahatma
Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Opposing the British ruling officials was bound to be
dangerous, but Gandhi believed that the best way to lose
oneself was to serve others. He protested peacefully, often
through the use of fasting and logical discourse, and
eventually his ideas won out and India became an
independent nation that was free of colonialism. He is
widely regarded for his work, even if his goal wasn’t to
become famous, simply because he was willing to always
put the needs of someone else before his own.
VISHNU S
18. “A man
can’t ride
your back
unless it’s
bent.”
- MLK Jr.Martin Luther King, Jr.
The same thing could be said about MLK. He didn’t
always want to be the leader of the US civil rights
movement, but he knew that there was a need for
equality. By putting the needs of others first, he was able
to leave a lasting legacy that proved anyone can make a
difference if they’re willing to have a humble, serving
perspective. Some of his speeches are still listened to
regularly today because they have such a ring of truth.
VISHNU S
19. Mother Teresa
She dedicated her life to serving others through her faith as
well. Mother Teresa had her critics from time to time, as most
servant leaders do, but no one could question the motives that
existed behind her desire to help. She never sought personal
recognition for the things that she was doing, though at times
she insisted on large changes and wasn’t afraid to say things that
others might hesitate to say. In the end, however, many are
calling her to become a saint because her life really was a
miracle.
VISHNU S
20. Nelson Mandela
Mandela stood before his people and told them that he was a
humble servant. He had a passion for his people and wanted to
see them achieve equality. Sometimes that meant taking to the
streets to demonstrate and put his personal well-being at risk. At
other times, it meant surviving harsh conditions in prison so that
a statement could be made. Through it all, Mandela proved that
you can lead others by putting their needs first.
VISHNU S
21. Albert Schweitzer
Schweitzer was a man who took his faith very literally. He took
the words of Jesus seriously and determined to love others as
best as he could. To that extent, he served in a number of ways.
At one point, he and his wife examined over 2,000 patients in
African while traveling hundreds of miles sometimes just to
reach one person. He questioned the theology of his time to help
bring others a fresh perspective.
VISHNU S
23. Strengths
It is compatible with the current values
and faith-based areas in most people’s
lives
Evidence of its success within
important and well known
organizations
Some sought after and desirable
aspects to this theory that are a nice
change of pace in the postmodern
environment in which we live
Changes up most conceptions about
leadership
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24. It is a unique way as it makes the
central component of the leadership
process.
It is an influence process that does not
incorporate influence in traditional
way.
It moderates the potential usefulness
of leading from this approach.
It has proved to be a suitable
instrument for future research on
servant leadership
VISHNU S
25. Challenges/Criticism
Secular and non-faith based groups
may not be receptive
Concepts are not well defined and
difficult to measure
Popularity exceeds any evidence to
back up the theory
It many or may not account for all
aspects of leadership
Unclear how the concept would work
in a competitive or crisis like
environment
VISHNU S
29. CONCLUSION
Servant Leadership- a leadership
practice that is based on the belief that
employees should be held as equals
and they should have say into the
organizations they work for
There is criticism but there are also
strengths
Many well know industries use this
theory as well many influential figures
throughout historyVISHNU S
30. Everyone has the ability to become a
servant leader.
Always remember, servant leaders are
leaders second and servants first!
VISHNU S
