Reading through this list of servant leader characteristics from Spears (2002, as cited by Northouse, 2018, p. 229-230) left me feeling like I now have a more complete understanding of servant leadership. To be able to summarize such an abstract concept into these ten traits was very helpful and may have been the first time I have seen servant leadership defined in this way.
As I read the list and reflected on the rest of this chapter focused on servant leadership, these are the three characteristics which stood out to me as I thought about my own leadership.
Empathy
The words of Romans 12:12-15 speak so much about empathy and how we can, to the best of our ability, “truly understand what followers are thinking and feeling” (Northouse, 2018, p. 229):
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn (New International Version)”
Leaders who can rejoice and mourn alongside those they are leading display this empathetic characteristic of servant leadership.
Conceptualization
A charity formed in response to some kind of response could be considered conceptualization within the framework of servant leadership.
Scott Harrison, the founder of Charity: Water, was gripped by what he saw in his time in Benin and Liberia. As a response he envisioned an organization which could respond to the water crisis he witnessed.
“I volunteered aboard a hospital ship with a humanitarian mission to Benin and then Liberia, West Africa, and saw extreme poverty for the first time. One year turned into two, and while I was there, I saw people drinking dirty water from ponds, rivers and swamps – simply born into communities without access. It shocked and angered me, and I began learning more about the world’s 800 million people living without access to clean water. I returned to NYC to help them, and started charity: water (Schawbel, 2013).
Building community
Employees who come together to create a workplace culture that promotes relationship and community would be an example of servant leadership. This could be a group of staff who go beyond the duties of their paid roles and look for opportunities to work together. Employees finding ways to come together to impact their local neighbourhood or helping co-workers create meaningful friendships would be possible outcomes of this servant leadership characteristic.
For me, there is no question empathy is the most challenging of the ten characteristics of a servant leader. My own lack of empathy and my awareness of this shortcoming has been a struggle in my life and leadership for many years. I am hopeful to one day see my own life marked by rejoicing with those who rejoice and mourning with those who mourn as a clear sign of growing empathy.
Question
Who is a mentor or person of influence in your life who has consistently modelled these characteristics of servant leadership?
Reference
Northouse, P. G. (2018). Leadership: Theory and Practice, Eighth Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Schawbel, Dan. (2013, July 22). “Scott Harrison: How He Started Charity: Water And What He Learned In The Process.” Retrieved from www.forbes.com/sites/danschawbel/2013/07/22/scott-harrison-how-he-started-charity-water-and-what-he-learned-in-the-process/.
Chris,
One of the strengths of a leader is to be open to growth, learning, and development, which often includes being aware of our own blind spots. I admire your willingness to acknowledge your own challenge with empathy, and the importance of empathy in leadership. What strategies do you use to expand your empathy? Are there others on your team who prompt you in this area? Fill in the gaps? Surrounding ourselves as leaders with others whose strengths compliment our weaknesses can be very effective.
I’m also intrigued by your thinking about community. What do you think it takes to build community within a professional work environment? Shared values? Positivity? Vulnerability? Time? Something else?
Great first blog!
Leadership Prof
Thanks for your comment, Leadership Prof.
To be honest one of the strategies right now is to be more open and honest about the areas of weakness in my own life. My hope is that this intentional behaviour will help in a larger redirection.
In my leadership I have found that bringing other leaders around me who in excel in empathy, compassion and relational leadership has been a big help when those tend to be areas where I struggle.
As far as work environment, when I chose that I was thinking about my wife’s former workplace where colleagues took on significant community impact projects. Not only did those projects make a difference in our local area but they were the spark for significant friendships which continue today even though she no longer works there.
All of the factors you mentioned are at play but I have also seen relationships developed while people are busy doing other things. So to agree together that we are going to spend a Saturday morning helping at a community food bank gives value to the food bank but it is also a way for us to build relationships around our shared effort outside of our typical colleague-to-colleague scenario.
Very good point! Sometimes focusing outward can have the powerful effect of strengthening our own ties with others.
— Leadership Prof