Organizational Behavior
Running head: Managing from within
Managing From Within
PSC-420 Organizational Behavior and Management
Cathy Mitchell
Grand Canyon University
“Servant leadership is about moving people to a higher level of individual and communal self-awareness by leading people at a higher level” (Serrat, 2009). In simpler terms, servant leadership is about using one’s higher level position to lead others, not one’s own self, to a higher level. Servant leadership is often associated with the Bible and Jesus Christ; however, it is compatible with most religions and theories of philosophy. A study by Kriger and Seng (2005) suggested that values of servant leadership (forgiveness, compassion/empathy, integrity, kindness, honesty/truthfulness, patience, humility, loving kindness, service to others, peacefulness, and listening, among others) were found within Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. In the Islam culture, an Islamic leader is supposed to lead his people by being an example to them through actions such as performing numerous good deeds and providing sound advice to others. This kind of act links the Islamic leader to the servant-leader category. From around the 1910’s until his death, in 1948, Mahatma Gandhi was a servant leader, whose motivation was to serve others. In his service, Gandhi made sure to place himself amongst the poor, in order to better relate to them in his service to them. However, Gandhi’s true goal was to raise his inner-self to a higher spiritual plane; thus, negating the true definition of servant leadership, as well as his own service to others. Compared to servant leadership, the parallel for Buddhism is to lead without leading, to empower and engage others to do what needs to be done, and, in the process, gain admiration and respect, but not put one’s self above those he serves. Gandhi definitely gained admiration and respect, and will be known worldwide for many years. Katherine Patterson (2003) used the
Managing From Within
PSC-420 Organizational Behavior and Management
Cathy Mitchell
Grand Canyon University
“Servant leadership is about moving people to a higher level of individual and communal self-awareness by leading people at a higher level” (Serrat, 2009). In simpler terms, servant leadership is about using one’s higher level position to lead others, not one’s own self, to a higher level. Servant leadership is often associated with the Bible and Jesus Christ; however, it is compatible with most religions and theories of philosophy. A study by Kriger and Seng (2005) suggested that values of servant leadership (forgiveness, compassion/empathy, integrity, kindness, honesty/truthfulness, patience, humility, loving kindness, service to others, peacefulness, and listening, among others) were found within Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. In the Islam culture, an Islamic leader is supposed to lead his people by being an example to them through actions such as performing numerous good deeds and providing sound advice to others. This kind of act links the Islamic leader to the servant-leader category. From around the 1910’s until his death, in 1948, Mahatma Gandhi was a servant leader, whose motivation was to serve others. In his service, Gandhi made sure to place himself amongst the poor, in order to better relate to them in his service to them. However, Gandhi’s true goal was to raise his inner-self to a higher spiritual plane; thus, negating the true definition of servant leadership, as well as his own service to others. Compared to servant leadership, the parallel for Buddhism is to lead without leading, to empower and engage others to do what needs to be done, and, in the process, gain admiration and respect, but not put one’s self above those he serves. Gandhi definitely gained admiration and respect, and will be known worldwide for many years. Katherine Patterson (2003) used the
References: Greenleaf, R. K. (1977). Servant leadership: A journey into the nature of legitimate power and greatness. New York: Paulist Press. Kriger, M., and Seng, Y. (2005). Leadership with inner meaning: A contingency theory of leadership based on the worldview of five religions. Leadership Quarterly, 16, 771-806. Mayer, J.D., & Salovey, P. (1997). What is emotional intelligence. In p. Salovey & D. S``luyter (Eds.), Emotional development and emotional intelligence: Educational implications (pp. 185-211). New York: Basic Books. Patterson,K. (2003). Servant Leadership:A theoretical model. Paper presented at the Servant Leadership Research Roundtable, Regent University, School of Leadership Studies. Serrat, O. (2009), Knowledge Solutions, Exercising Servant Leadership, retrieved 1/2/2011 from http:www.qdb.org/documents/information/knowledge-solutions/exercising-servant-leadership.pdf