Thanks, Stella for the comments. I liked very much you bringing up the need of the leader to ask questions and to be informed before making a decision or forming an opinion. Knowing what has been done before is an essential part of this process as well. It is very much what a critical thinking leader should do (Atha, 2008). Many times I also have to learn to read \u201cbetween the lines.\u201d I must speak from what I experience. I am aware that Paraguayans do not speak directly, but one needs to learn to interpret what is being said. One can easily make a mistake when you don\u2019t understand correctly specific observations or does not understand the comments. Example, I have had prominent people from the community who currently do not have children in our school come to my office and start asking about the school’s registration requirements and class size. The person knows already ahead of time that the classes are full, that we have no space, and about the registration requirements. What they are trying to do is to see if I am impressed by their status in the community and if I will make an exception and allow them to register their child, when in reality there are several other children on the waiting list.<\/p>\n
You made great questions and sorry if I assumed people would understand.<\/p>\n
When I say that some people do not respond well to some servant leadership skills is that occasionally people do not want to take part in the decision-making process, for example. People want me, as a principal to decide. They don\u2019t want me to ask, \u201cwhat do you think?\u201d Some are so used to the top-down decision-making process that they believe the leader has all the authority to decide without asking. I had my secretary tell me the first year that I was not a leader since I allowed others to decide as well.<\/p>\n
I believe that situational servant leadership should be used when people have not yet understood the concept of servant leadership and because of cultural traditions seem to not respond well to servant leadership. I add the word situational because the leader picks and chooses the time and with whom to fully apply servant leadership skills. I might be wrong of course, but this has been my experience.<\/p>\n
I wonder what other peoples experience has been on this. Is situational servant leadership possible, or is it all or nothing?<\/p>\n
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