James C. Hunter (2004) called servant leadership, “The world’s most powerful leadership principal” (p. 1). Who would have thought this approach to leadership would progress this far past the prevailing mindset of mid-century America? The concept would be difficult to grasp for many if not for two of the most well-known servant leaders of the 20th century – Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. Both men transformed the minds and hearts of millions because they led by their ideals – always putting the needs and desires of other people before themselves (Northouse, 2016).
It is for almost no other leadership theory when epitomized fully by the leader that the leader is remembered and honored well after their deaths. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for all of his contributions for forwarding the civil rights movement is honored with multiple public schools, streets and a federal building in his honor, as well as having a national holiday named for him. Dr. King through his social activism offered his followers an inclusive vision, listened carefully to the needs of the African American community, as well as the economically disadvantaged and all victims of injustice (Frady, 2002). He persuaded through reason and healed divisions while building community – all characteristics of a servant leader (Northouse, 2016).
Dr. King’s antecedent that had an impact to him becoming a civil rights icon was inherent in his desire to lead, first as a pastor of his congregation. He was quoted as saying that he chose to enter the ministry because it was to him the best way to answer, “the inner urge to serve humanity” (Frady, 2002, p. 18). These leader attributes existing of a deep desire to lead and being driven to a higher calling demonstrate how Dr. King exhibited servant leadership (Northouse, 2016).
The country of India has been forever shaped and impacted by the servant leadership behaviors of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi was a great role model of truth and of non-violence in the form of peaceful civil disobedience demonstrating ethical behavior, an important servant leader behavior (Barnabas & Clifford, 2012; Northouse, 2016). Gandhi was executed when exhibiting facets of emotional healing – being sensitive to the well-being of others, when he bravely stood to support peace with Muslims when he himself was Hindu (Barnabas & Clifford, 2012; Northouse, 2016). Further, he empowered peasants of the Himalayas to take back their farmland from the British, while still motivating all to follow a path of non-violence to achieve this freedom (Barnabas & Clifford, 2012). Like King, Gandhi put the needs of the people first, at a great personal cost to himself.
Through the actions of these great men, the societal impact for the communities and the countries they lived within are vast and enduring. Martin Luther King, Jr. helped America realize its capabilities toward being a nation that embraced equality, and inspired millions to “stand at times of trial and adversity” (The King Center, n.d.). Mahatma Gandhi helped inspire an oppressed India to gain independence through non-violence against the British. Emeritus Professor Gilbert Murray (1939) of Oxford once wrote of Gandhi, “He is a ruler obeyed by millions, not because they fear him but because they love him (p. 197). These outcomes of servant leadership led to follower growth (people of nations) and a positive societal impact – a desirable and hard-won conclusion to these men’s life’s work. (Northouse, 2016).
References
Barnabas, A. & Clifford, P. S. (2012). Mahatma Gandhi – An Indian model of servant leadership. International Journal of Leadership Studies 7(2). Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Annette_Barnabas/publication/234090908_MAHATMA_GANDHI_-_AN_INDIAN_MODEL_OF_SERVANT_LEADERSHIP/links/02e7e51ca648ed42dd000000/MAHATMA-GANDHI-AN-INDIAN-MODEL-OF-SERVANT-LEADERSHIP.pdf
Frady, M. (2002). Martin Luther King, Jr.: A life. New York, NY: Penguin Books
Hunter, J. C. (2004). The world’s most powerful leadership principle. New York, NY: Random House Publishing
King, M. L. (n.d). The King Center. Retrieved from http://www.thekingcenter.org/blog/mlk-quote-week-times-challenge-and-controversy
Murray, G. (1939). Gandhi’s spiritual authority. In S. Radhakrishnan, (Ed.), Mahatma Gandhi – Essays and reflections on his life and work (pp. 197,198). Woking, Great Britain: Unwin Brothers Limited.
Northouse, P.G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and practice. (7th ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications, Inc
djh5474 says
Servant leadership
Reading Mr. Hunter’s quote of servant leadership being the world’s most powerful leadership principal is an excellent way to start the information. Dr. King and Mahatma Gandhi are superior examples of servant leadership styles that promoted inspiration and empowerment to followers in truth and non-violent ways to influence and change people. Building productive members and healthy communities is key to development of organization that can move forward in a positive manner. Teachers, parents, fire fighters, and many other servant leadership positions display characteristics that promote member growth and development that align with the servant leader.
Ten defined characteristics focus on the individual and meeting member needs to build a group of people that bond with a common goal (Williams, 2018). Listening, empathy, persuasion, and stewardship are four of the characteristics that help the leader shape the members and focus on the community (Williams, 2018). Listening is by far the greatest servant leadership characteristic as the leader hears the followers or members first (Northouse, 2018, p. 227), then send their message to the group which is in direct context to similar cultural values or higher calling (Northouse, 2018. P. 228). Dr. King and Mr. Gandhi were excellent at listening first then expressing the followers’ needs to a broader audience to begin a unified movement.
Dr. King and Mr. Gandhi were true servant leaders as they held empathy for the cultural values by developing their servant leader behaviors with one very important behavior of putting followers first then helping them to succeed (Williams, 2018). Servant leaders show empathy to followers and provide contributions in social settings to assist with conceptualizing the bigger picture and creating value for the community (Williams, 2018). Mother Theresa was an great servant leader as well promoting human welfare with her desire to help children around the world and promoting emotional healing for the whole world (Williams, 2018).
Persuasion and stewardship were great attributes of Dr. King and Mr. Gandhi with their ability to speak well and with respect for all people and all their followers. The antecedent or pre-existing factors were their abilities to focus on social situation during their time of leadership and provide the behavior of emotional healing for the community for an outcome of follower performance and growth throughout the world (Williams, 2018). Many teachers and religious leaders display servant leadership to help the whole through their followers by stimulating and motivating with the servant leader behaviors (Williams, 2018).
Excellent documentation of servant leadership in reference to Dr. King and Mr. Gandhi as they were a picture of being a servant leader for the cultural generations they grew up in. Servant leadership can be apparent in several different positions from teachers to parents to world leaders who work to help the follower succeed and build a better community with healthy ethics and values.
Reference:
Northouse, Peter G. (2016). Chapter 10: Servant Leadership. Leadership: Theory and Practice (7th ed.). Los Angeles: SAGE Publications, Inc. Pages 225-256.
Williams, Jason. (2018). PSYCH 485 Lecture Notes. Module Lesson 11: Servant Leadership. Penn State Canvas Online Course. Retrieved on 04 November from https://psu.instructure.com/courses/1942231/modules/items/25010894.