As quoted by famous Chines philosopher Laozi, “A leader is best when people know he barely exists; when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves” (Schmitz, 2013). This quote fully exemplifies what the servant leadership approach is all about. Ultimately this type of leader will commit to serve the followers needed to get the job done. As the leader assists to mentor and serve the needs of others, it will push these individuals to become servants themselves and help others (PSU W.C., Lesson 11, 2014).
Those who are servant leaders possess seven different behavior traits. Each behavior offers a different contribution to the central focus of the servant leadership. First, a leader must learn to conceptualize the purposes and mission of their followers or employees. Second, they must be sensitive to others personal concerns and overall well-being. They must always put their follows before themselves, this is very important! By putting others before themselves they can help their followers to grow and succeed. Servant leaders should always behave ethically, allow their followers to be independent and make their own decisions and lastly they need to focus on creating value for the community. This can be done by encouraging followers to also become servant leaders and help others to accomplish their goals (Northouse, 2013).
Now what are a few examples of servant leaders? Abraham Lincoln is a great example of acting as a servant leader. Lincoln’s actions during the US Civil War are often cited as prime examples of servant leadership behavior (Hubbard, 2011). Still today, many scholars look to his preservation of the Union during his conflict and the freeing of the Southern slaves. While Abraham Lincoln did not take the easy road, he chose to fight for what others believed in and fought to abolish slavery knowing that it would be more beneficial to the people he was serving in the long run, even if they did not realize it at the time.
Another leader is the famous Martin Luther King. We know that Dr. King was the voice of the people as he is so fondly remembered as such. Dr. King certainly did not choose the easy road when he assumed a leadership role in the Civil Rights Movement and chose to champion the non-violent approach (Perry, 2010). Knowing that this would be the more difficult choice, he wanted to do what would be best for his followers. Even more servant-like was Dr. King’s desire to not be remembered for the tributes he won in life, but for his ability to care more about others while not being shown any recognition for his actions.
Servant leaders such as Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King are still celebrated and remembered today because of their willingness to stand up for the people and fight for their causes without needing any kind acknowledgment. I think that it takes a very selfless and strong-minded individual like these two iconic models to carry out this leadership style. They are empathetic, ethical and lead in the way that will serve the greater good of the people (Northouse, 2013).
References:
Hubbard, C.M. (May 31, 2011). Lincoln as a servant leader http://lincolninstitute.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/lincoln-as-a-servant-leader/
Northouse, P. G. (2013). Leadership: theory and practice (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus (2014). PSYCH 485 Lesson 11: Transformational Leadership. Retrieved from https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/fa14/psych485/001/content/11_lesson/03_page.html
Perry, J. (January 18, 2010). Martin Luther King, Jr: A true servant leader. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-perry/martin-luther-king-jr-a-t_b_427417.html
Schmitz, P. (April 10, 2013). A Powerful Example of Servant Leadership. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-schmitz/true-servant-leadership-f_b_3016044.html
I really enjoyed reading your post and I love your introductory quote. I think this really gives your a good understanding of what a servant leader is. A servant leader helps their team to grow individually. They take the time to encourage and explain how to do things instead of just performing the tasks themselves, or getting frustrated. It is a fulfilling experience when somebody finally understands a concept and are then able to teach another person.
I like your two examples of servant leaders, Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. Each individual was completely selfless. There were major risks to their cause but neither hesitated. They fulfilled the needs of their people and taught important life lessons along the way. As we know, there were consequences to their actions, but they were still able to leave their mark on society. It was because of their wisdom and their teachings that, after they were gone, people were able to continue in their place. Without acting as servant leaders that might not have been possible and their work would have been lost.