Servant leadership has easily been one of my favorite leadership theories this class has covered. While it is still early in the stages of research of development, the altruistic component differentiates it from the other theories, by putting the emphasis on the followers as opposed to the leader (Northouse, 2016, pp. 240). Northouse (2016) discusses servant leadership as a behavior a leader does, as opposed to a trait a leader has, highlighting that anyone can be taught to be a servant leader. Finally, servant leaders put the interests and needs of their followers over their own, in order to help the development of their followers (Northouse, 2016, pp.140). Martin Luther King Jr. is the person who instantaneously comes to mind when thinking about servant leaders, stepping up as a voice for the black community when very few others would, at a time when tensions were high (Bruns, 2006). Martin Luther King Jr. fits perfectly into the model of servant leadership based on Liden, Wayne, Zhao, and Henderson (2008) and Linden, Panaccio, Hu, and Meuser (2014), following along with the framework’s components: antecedent conditions, servant leader behaviors, and leadership outcomes (Northouse, 2016, pp.231).
The existing, otherwise known as antecedent conditions, are the first component of the servant leadership model. The context and the culture which significantly impacted Martin Luther King Jr. into demonstrating servant leadership was the segregation and racial discrimination between the white and black communities (Northouse, 2016, pp.231). MLK quickly became known for his nonviolent marches and inspired his followers with his famous “I have a dream speech,” where he imagined a future of equality (Bruns, 2006). One of the leader attributes unique to MLK was his initiative of fighting the injustices faced by African Americans, stemming from his sense of higher calling, based on his Christian beliefs he led a movement of civil disobedience and nonviolence (Northouse, 2016, pp.232). Finally, there was a great desire of servant leadership from MLK’s followers at the time of the Civil Rights Movement, showing a high level of follower receptivity (Northouse, 2016, pp.233). Due to the great match between MLK’s demonstration of servant leadership and his follower’s responsiveness, this lead to positive outcomes, such as gathering over 250,000 peaceful protestors in one of his marches (Bruns, 2006).
Along with the antecedent conditions, there are several behaviors servant leaders demonstrate according to Liden, Wayne, et al. (2008) including: conceptualizing, emotional healing, putting followers first, helping followers grow and succeed, behaving ethically, empowering, and creating value for the community (Northouse, 2016, pp. 232). Martin Luther King Jr. was an expert at conceptualizing the problem at hand, the injustices African Americans were enduring, and was able to address the issue through nonviolent protests, inspired by success of Mahatma Gandhi’s peaceful demonstrations in India (Bruns, 2006). MLK Jr. was very sympathetic and understanding of his followers needs and concerns, and even expanded his activism efforts to address issues affecting Americans of all races, such as the Vietnam War and poverty in the nation, clearly demonstrating both emotional healing behaviors and putting his followers first (Bruns, 2006). Martin Luther King Jr. was very successful at helping his followers succeed. For example, black sanitation workers in Memphis began a protest against the low pay, working conditions, and discrimination they were facing. MLK went to Memphis and gave a speech in which he communicated his support of the worker’s strike. His speech and encouragement generated both media coverage and more protestors to join the demonstration, which ultimately led to the city of Memphis to meet all of the worker’s demands (Bruns, 2006). Martin Luther King Jr. exhibited only ethical behaviors in achieving success. It is also important to keep in mind that this is at a time when African Americans were facing violent acts regularly from the white community, making MLK’s high ethical standards even more commendable (Bruns, 2006). MLK is unarguably one of the most widely known leaders of United States history for empowerment of his followers to fight against discrimination to receive the rights they deserved. Finally, one of the values Martin Luther King Jr. lived his life on was community. He spent much of his life giving back to the community and promoted his belief that all people are brothers and sisters (Bruns, 2006).
The final component of the model of servant leadership is leadership outcomes. Leadership outcomes are follower performance and growth, organizational performance, and societal impact, (Northouse, 2016, pp.236). Martin Luther King Jr. emphasized his followers not only should strive for better, but they deserved better, by bringing light to the wrongs of discrimination and calling upon his followers to do the same (Bruns, 2006). MLK was successful in making his followers confident in their capabilities, and also bringing them together to have positive overall organizational performance (Northouse, 2016, pp. 237). The support he provided his followers helped clarify the end-goal of obtaining equality and was essential to the accomplishments brought by the Civil Rights Movement. Finally, MLK had a great impact on society and is greatly responsible for the passing of the Voting Rights Act and Civil Rights Act, impacting not only citizens of the United States, but also the entire world (Bruns, 2006). MLK served as an inspiration in the United States, and also provided hope to individuals in other countries who were facing racial discrimination. We can only speculate how many more great things MLK could have accomplished if his life were not cut short when he was assassinated by James Earl Ray April 4th 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee (Bruns, 2006).
Martin Luther King Jr., the Nobel Peace Prize winner of 1964, demonstrated he had a social responsibility and civic duty to be concerned about “the have-nots” and those less privileged. If inequalities and social injustices exist, a servant leader tries to remove them (Northouse, 2016, pp.227). Robert Greenleaf says his servant leadership was based on Hermann Hesse’s novel The Journey to the East (1956) but his given definition about social awareness seems to fit perfectly with the life and actions of Martin Luther King Jr. MLK accomplished so much for the black community and the United States, role modeling the ideal of servant leadership and all the positive outcomes it can produce for generations to come.
References:
Bruns, R. (2006). Martin Luther King, Jr: A Biography (Greenwood biographies, 1540-4900). Greenwood Publishing Group.
Northouse, P.G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and Practice. Los Angeles: Sage Publications
kmp5693 says
Interesting post! I have always considered Martin Luther King, Jr. as a transformational leader since he had transformed many from the late 50’s posthumously and made contributions to change the social norm (Northouse, 2016). I like how you analyzed MLK’s leadership style based on the servant leadership model. Indeed, he appeared to have both ten characteristics of a servant leader as well as characteristics of a transformational leader.
Since the 1950’s he had demonstrated a pattern of behaviors that stood out as a servant leader. I believe any good leaders regardless of their leadership styles should have outstanding skills as a listener which MLK as a servant leader had (Northouse, 2016). I was taught that he was a quiet man and often listened while others argued in private meetings, but known as an inspirational speaker which he had both servant leadership and transformational leadership attributes (Ling, 2003.; Northouse, 2016).
I am not certain whether MLK had foresight to know what would happen in the future or he had a clear vision of the ideal future (Northouse, 2016). Knowing and envisioning are two different constructs which knowing the future warrants action based on the understanding and envisioning the ideal future offers motivation to act to achieve goals (Northouse, 2016). In any case, you have proven that MLK did have characteristics that could fit as a servant leader.
References
Northouse, P.G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and Practice. Los Angeles: Sage Publications
Ling, P. (2003). History – Martin Luther King’s Style of Leadership. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/recent/martin_luther_king_01.shtml
Shante Walker says
Thanks for the post on MLK Jr,
I appreciate the passion behind your comments on Martin Luther King Jr. as servant leadership is definitely one where an individual “Goes beyond the day-to-day operational thinking to focus on the “big-picture” (Northhouse, 2016, p. 228) which under conceptualization refers to the individual to be visionary which also falls in line with “foresight” which is not just envisioning what is to come, but also knowing what is to come (Northouse, 2016, p. 228) and Martin Luther King was that and much more. While MLK fit the model of servant leadership, I definitely would have categorized him under “transformational leadership as his being was not strictly to “serve and influence” but to “transform” the thinking of the world and be transformed himself through personal growth.
You mentioned that his religious beliefs influenced his servant leadership style which made his followers receptive to him. Is it possible that the culture and context of the racism, oppression, being black in America and against all odds a fighting force for how he lead and how his followers responded considering that while he was speaking to the world only the black community could truly follow at first? “Because the norms differ, the ways servant leadership is performed may vary” (Northouse, 2016, p. 231). There is no doubt that Martin Luther King Jr. was a servant leader and yes I agree, had he not been murdered, there might have been two black presidents? He made a positive societal impact (Northouse, 2016, p.237) and had ” Influence of organizational performance” (Northouse, 2016, p. 237) but unlike other leadership styles and theories, this style calls upon ethics and a unique perspective.
“Servant leaders are ethical” (Northouse, 2016, p. 224). I cannot speak upon the ethics of MLK Jr. in detail but his heart to want to “lead in ways that serve the greater good of the organization, community and society” not only say so much about his leadership but also reminds me of President Barack Obama. While MLK Jr. did so much for the black community, but his message was intended for the entire world and paved the way for other cultures in America today. If Martin Luther King provided servant leadership and it became his life rather than a role, then it may be safe to say what makes Servant Leadership unique is that it may be a lifestyle.
SW