Robert Greenleaf Set Ten Characteristics Of A Servant Leader
Running Head: Servant Leaders
Servant Leaders
Not an ordinary leader, To Lead and Serve with great purpose
Professional Development, MBA 525
Professor Darren Adamson
June 15th, 2012
Abstract
Introduction Each and every one of us has come across excellent leaders in our work centers and in life. These types of people leave a lasting impression on us and we forever remember their names. We learn from these leaders and we grow from these leaders. From their efforts we become great leaders ourselves. There are many types of leadership styles ranging from autocratic leadership to bureaucratic leadership, servant leadership to transformation leadership, and from democratic …show more content…
He has taken away from Greenleaf’s concepts a set ten characteristics that are essential to the development of a servant leader. These characteristics are: listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of people, and building community (Autry 2004). Listening is first and one of the most important characteristic any leader should possess. A servant leader is actively motivated to listen to their subordinates and support them in the decision making process. To possess empathy a servant leader attempts to understand and empathize with others. Healing is a great strength of a servant leader (Autry 2004). “A servant leader tries to help people solve their problems and conflicts in relationships” (Autry, 2004, p.4). A servant leader must have awareness, this means to view situations with awareness. Persuasion means a servant leader never takes advantage of their power and status and they rather convince those they manage (Autry 2004). A servant leader has conceptualization, this means they think beyond the day-to-day tasks and sees beyond limits focusing on long term goals (Autry 2004). They also foresight which means they learn about the past to better understand the present. A very important characteristic they need is stewardship. Stewardship is the core of servant leadership because it’s the obligation to help and serve others; this is what servant leadership is all about (Autry 2004). A servant leader is very committed to the growth of their people. This means they will “nurture the personal, professional and spiritual growth of their employees” (Autry 2004). And lastly a servant leader has the characteristic of building community. A servant leader looks for ways to build a strong community within and outside their organization (Autry 2004). These ten
Servant Leaders
Not an ordinary leader, To Lead and Serve with great purpose
Professional Development, MBA 525
Professor Darren Adamson
June 15th, 2012
Abstract
Introduction Each and every one of us has come across excellent leaders in our work centers and in life. These types of people leave a lasting impression on us and we forever remember their names. We learn from these leaders and we grow from these leaders. From their efforts we become great leaders ourselves. There are many types of leadership styles ranging from autocratic leadership to bureaucratic leadership, servant leadership to transformation leadership, and from democratic …show more content…
He has taken away from Greenleaf’s concepts a set ten characteristics that are essential to the development of a servant leader. These characteristics are: listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of people, and building community (Autry 2004). Listening is first and one of the most important characteristic any leader should possess. A servant leader is actively motivated to listen to their subordinates and support them in the decision making process. To possess empathy a servant leader attempts to understand and empathize with others. Healing is a great strength of a servant leader (Autry 2004). “A servant leader tries to help people solve their problems and conflicts in relationships” (Autry, 2004, p.4). A servant leader must have awareness, this means to view situations with awareness. Persuasion means a servant leader never takes advantage of their power and status and they rather convince those they manage (Autry 2004). A servant leader has conceptualization, this means they think beyond the day-to-day tasks and sees beyond limits focusing on long term goals (Autry 2004). They also foresight which means they learn about the past to better understand the present. A very important characteristic they need is stewardship. Stewardship is the core of servant leadership because it’s the obligation to help and serve others; this is what servant leadership is all about (Autry 2004). A servant leader is very committed to the growth of their people. This means they will “nurture the personal, professional and spiritual growth of their employees” (Autry 2004). And lastly a servant leader has the characteristic of building community. A servant leader looks for ways to build a strong community within and outside their organization (Autry 2004). These ten