Generally speaking, servant leadership is a leadership style that transcends self-interest to serve other people’s needs by assisting them to grow personally as well as professionally. In other words, the primary motivation and role of a servant leader are to offer service to others. It usually starts with the natural feeling that an individual desire to serve then conscious choice makes one want to lead. It occurs when both leader and servant terms are employed at the same time in a person’s style of leadership.
Ideally, in servant leadership, a leader is typically called to serve the people while leading them. Servant leadership calls for a leader who serves and meets the needs of his followers; therefore, this should be the principal motivation for leadership. In most cases, true leadership comes from those individuals whose motivation is the desire to aid others. This kind of leadership focuses on putting the well-being of others prior to other objectives. As such, servant leaders develop individuals, assisting them to flourish and strive.
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Markedly, servant leadership is a belief that the goals of a particular organization will be attained by first facilitating the development, growth, as well as the general well-being of the people who make up the organization. Thus, it is a style of leadership that emphasizes that leaders should pay attention to their followers’ concerns and further empathize with them. Also, they should take care of them and nurture them. Moreover, a servant leader behaves ethically towards his or her subordinates. Often, the most suitable test of the leader is whether the followers develop as individuals and whether they become wiser and healthier while being served by the leader. Also, a servant leader is one who ensures that his followers can become servant leaders.
Notably, there are ten principles of servant leadership. First, servant leaders should be able to listen intently to others. They should listen to what is being said. Also, listening involves getting in touch with an individual’s inner voice and striving to comprehend what one’s spirit, mind, and body are communicating. Second, servant leaders should have empathy; they should attempt to understand and empathize with others. Individuals need to be recognized and accepted for their unique spirit. Third, healing is a vital principle. A servant leader should be able to heal one’s self and others. Fourth, awareness is crucial, more specifically, self-awareness as it strengthens the leader.
Fifth, persuasion is essential. For the most part, servant leaders depend on persuasion, instead of positional authority when arriving at decisions. They try to convince their followers, instead of coercing compliance. In other words, servant leaders develop consensus within groups. Sixth, there is conceptualization. Conceptualization involves analyzing a problem beyond day-to-day realities. Hence, servant leaders must balance between daily focus and conceptualization. Seventh, foresight enables servant leaders to comprehend lessons from the past, present facts, and the aftermath of a choice in the future. Eighth, stewardship is a paramount principle in servant leadership. That is, all individuals play important roles in holding their institutions. Ninth, there is the commitment to people. That is, servant leaders are committed to a professional, personal, and spiritual growth of each person. Finally, there is building community in which service leaders identify a way of building community among the workers of a given institution.
An illustration of service leadership was in the scenario when the American Commander, Lt. Col Moore fought on the ground with his men. He even ordered his commanders to rescue still cut-off platoon. Another example of servant leadership is looking at the US Army. The US army generally put followers first and this can be seen in basic training for recruits. During training, the leaders usually utilize words and actions that demonstrate to followers that their well-being and concerns are a priority.
In conclusion, servant leaders are concerned with the well-being of their followers, and they focus on developing their followers’ professionally and personally. They also behave ethically towards the people they lead. Therefore, adapting service leadership in the military is essential.
