Saunders, J. O, (1994), states, \u201cserving and suffering are paired in the teaching and life of our Lord. One does not come without the other\u201d, (p.23).<\/p>\n
By the very nature of the word \u201cservant\u201d leadership, there is a paradoxical issue that arises as personal struggle as a semantic noise is wheeled around the environment which scholars believe affects the approach.<\/p>\n The Concept<\/strong> The Qualities\/Characteristics<\/strong>.<\/p>\n John Maxwell states, \u201ca leader who is relational needs to do three things. The need to be able to listen, observe \u2013 being conscious of where your people are and finally you must be learning\u201d (Leadership, 2015). These are some of the characteristic (as cited by Spears, 2002) from Greenleaf\u2019s work. The ten characteristics highlighted are, \u201clistening, empathy, healing, awareness, Persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of people and building community\u201d (Northouse, 2019, p229-230).<\/p>\n So, servant leadership begins when the leaders commit themselves to put their followers first, being honest with them, and treating them fairly\u201d (p. 240). The leader develops strong- a long-term relationship which allows them not only to be aware of the work life but also to develop a personal relationship that goes beyond the boundaries of work.<\/p>\n The Contrast<\/strong><\/p>\n A servant leader is tasked with working through the various characteristics or behavior. Northouse (2019), argues that there are three Antecedent conditions that the leader must be aware of. \u201cthe context and culture, leader attributes, and follower receptivity\u201d (p.233). These he notes may affect or influence the leadership process. Let\u2019s discuss two such.<\/p>\n The Leaders Awareness vs emotional intelligence.<\/p>\n The leader\u2019s awareness is about being attuned and receptive to their social, physical and political environment. It requires, you to be able to adjust based on one\u2019s perspective, and an understanding of the desired goal is for the greater context. While Emotional intelligence is primarily focused on the follower. Servant leadership is more concerned about the emotional well-being of its followers (Smith, B.N, \u201cet al\u201d, p.85). So the leaders pay attention to the follower, \u201crecognizing their problems and taking the time to address them\u201d. It is about making your self-available to stand by the follower. (Northouse, 2019, p.235)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Reference<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n K. (2008, July 09). Southwest Airlines’ Colleen Barrett on ‘Servant Leadership’. Retrieved October 19, 2018, from https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=6TgR95vnM0<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Challenge<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nKnowledgeAtWharton<\/a> interviewed Colleen Barrett \u2013 former president of Southwest at a leadership conference where she spoke about servant leadership. She was asked what training she had to run an airline. Her response was, \u201cnone, but that she had a passion to serve\u201d (KnowledgeAtWharton, 2008). she presented a 3 tier pyramid (see blow) as to how she ran the company. Her focus first on her employees, where she spent 85% of her time working with them, the remainder was spent with the passenger and shareholders. If you cared for your employees, they would in return care for the passenger, and so repeated customers and the shareholder benefit.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/create.twu.ca\/myjourney\/files\/2018\/10\/colleen-300x190.png\")
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