Abby Powell
LDS N2
Chapter 10 – Servant Leadership
Questions for Study
1. Be able to summarize the ideas of Robert Greenleaf and the historical basis of servant leadership. What are the unique, underlying values of his perspective?
Servant leadership emphasizes that leaders be attentive to the concerns of their followers, empathize with them, and nurture them. Servant leaders put followers first, empower them, and help them develop their full personal capacities.
2. How can a person be a leader and a servant at the same time?
Servant leaders place the food of followers over their own self-interests and emphasize follower development. They emphasize strong moral behavior towards followers, the organization, and other stakeholders. It is a type of leadership that can be learned.
3. In what ways is servant leadership like a trait?
Servant leadership is like a trait because in order to be a servant you have to want to serve others and put your followers first.
4. How does a person become altruistic? Is this an inborn trait or a learned behavior?
A person who is altruistic suggests that actions are moral if their primary purpose is to promote the best interests of others, even when it runs contrary to his or her own self-interests. Altruism would be a logical trait for nature to build into the human species. It can benefit us personally as much as it benefits society as a whole.
5. Distinguish between the following terms: Leadership principles, leadership philosophies, leadership approaches, leadership models, and leadership theories.
Leadership principles are the characteristics needed to be an efficient leader. Leadership philosophies are the beliefs of a good leader. Leadership models are different styles of leadership. Leadership theories are the reasoning behind each leadership model.
6. How are servant leaders different from other types of leaders?
They have the desire to serve others and put their followers first.
7. What are the three antecedent conditions for servant leadership in the Liden et al. (2008) model? What other conditions might you add to the list?
The three antecedent conditions are:
1) context and culture: servant leadership does not occur in a vacuum but occurs within a given organizational context and a particular culture
2) leader attributes: the qualities and disposition of the leader influence the servant leadership process
3) follower receptivity: factor that appears to influence the impact of servant leadership on outcomes such as personal and organizational job performance
8. What are the five servant leader behaviors in the Liden et al. (2008) model?
The five servant leader behaviors are conceptualizing, emotional healing, putting followers first, helping followers grow and succeed, behaving ethically. Conceptualizing is the servant leader’s thorough understanding of the organization-its purposes, complexities, and mission. Emotional healing involves being sensitive o the personal concerns and well being of others. Putting others first is using actions and words that clearly demonstrate to followers that their concerns are a priority. Helping followers grow and succeed refers to knowing followers’ professional or personal goals and helping accomplish those aspirations.
9. How might contingency theory (a leader-match theory) explain follower receptivity in the servant leadership model?
follower receptivity - servant leadership
The receptivity of followers is a factor that appears to influence the impact of servant leadership on outcomes such as personal and organizational job performance.
10. Explain how servant leader behaviors can create a ripple effect in followers.
Servant leader behaviors can create a ripple effect because they learn from the models of their leaders. Servant leaders will create more servant leaders.
11. How is awareness in the servant leadership approach different from emotional intelligence, or self-awareness in the psychodynamic approach? Can you identify a person who exemplifies this component of the model?
1.The psychodynamic approach deals more with self-awareness. So, if you are self-aware, you can learn to manage your emotions and be rational about things.
2.The traits approach is just concerned with the traits you are born with and believes that you have to be born with certain traits to be a leader.
3.The styles approach looks at the way you interact and believes that the way you interact is because of a certain belief you have about human nature
12. How does servant leadership fit with the influence component of leadership?
Servant leadership fits with the influence component of leadership because it is likely to have a positive impact on society.
13. What are the strengths and criticisms of the servant leadership approach?
Strengths
1. Unique in the way it makes altruism the central component of the leadership process. The only leadership approach that frames the leadership process around the principle of caring for others.
2. Provides a counterintuitive and provocative approach to the use of influence, or power, in leadership. It argues that leaders should not dominate, direct, or control.
3. Does not imply that Servant leadership will work in every context.
4. Research has resulted in a sound measure of servant leadership (Servant Leadership Questionnaire, SLQ)
Criticisms
1. The title "servant leadership" diminishes the potential value of the approach, because it is likely to be perceived as contradictory.
2. Researchers have been unable to reach consensus on a common definition or theoretical framework for the leadership style.
3. The implication regarding servant leadership conflicts with principles of leadership, such as; directing, concern for production, goal setting, and creating a vision.
4. Unclear why "conceptualizing" is included as one of the servant leadership behaviours within the model.