Reflection on Servant Leadership - Research Paper Example

running head: Servant Leadership Servant Leadership Submitted No. [Pick the After the post industrialization era andevolution of leadership in the business world, there is almost an obsession with the phenomena of leadership. Every organization wants to recruit the best human resources, those that can not only generate revenue for them but also lead them in to the uncertain future. There are countless schools of thoughts when it comes to leadership, as it grew in importance hoards of researchers pondered over the best leadership style. Almost all of them involved concept of managerial influence and power and most of them pointed to a selfish approach that only concentrated on generating monetary results and achieving organizational objectives only. On the contrary servant leadership style is the answer to all our leadership dilemmas, it teaches us to give priorities to our followers and not have the arrogance and pride of modern day leaders. It is about understanding human beings and keeping relation prior to money, power or fame. It connects our worldly desires with the eternal life and through the best example of Jesus Christ; it teaches us compassion, sacrifice and devotion to a noble cause. The balancing act between religious teachings and conducting our business is best described by this approach ensuring us success in both worlds, helping others that gives us incomparable peace and harmony eventually a feeling of self actualization. A literary analysis of servant leadership taught me a lot about this leadership style, it was an enriching experience learning about something that has real meaning of life. The Servant leadership phenomena basically reflected the idea of alleviating other’s lives and helping them in their development and achieve progress in their lives. While reading Spiritual Leadership by Darrell SC Peregrym I understood that basis of every religion mainly Christianity is humble nature of the leaders and prophets, intended to bring peace and salvation to those who are in suffering. Another lesson learnt through this concept was demarcation between state and church which acts as the basis of political system in western world now. Earlier teachings of Christianity equated money and worldly pleasures with evil however segregation between Church and governing bodies of civil society helped in establishing role of Church and its representatives as a servant leader (Peregrym, 2011e). Hence, it is Church’s responsibility to provide guidance to people without seeking anything in return. Furthermore, servant leadership cannot rest only with today’s managers and senior people running organizations and religious institutions. Instead, this leadership style governs the way individuals live their lives which also includes running their businesses as well. In addition to that, Darrell SC Peregrym (2011d) explained four sphere of influence i.e. family & friends, extended family, those we despise or look upon with disdain and uttermost parts of the world. This explanation made me realize how responsibility of Church is extended throughout the world. We, as normal people, also have responsibility towards society. Hence, these spheres of influence make us liable to serve those close to us and even those that are not related to us. I believe that this is a meaning of humanity itself, helping others even when they don’t ask for it. Another important lesson that I learnt was how servant leadership requires changes inside out. Although servant leadership is more oriented towards others, however it begins with a transformation that leader goes through. Hence, it is important to make others especially those we lead to be part of our decisions in an ethical and caring manner by keeping the needs of others and development in mind. However, this concept does not just focus on people. It also teaches another lesson by adopting an approach which provides equilibrium between people’s welfare and organizational progress. Hence, servant leadership is not just for religious leaders and their institutions; instead it is for everyone and can be practiced by everyone (Peregrym, 2011c). Further analysis made me understand that being a servant leader requires persistence and resilience, just like Jesus Christ and God himself. Peregrym (2011b, p.1) made this point by quoting, “Scripture records, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son…” (Jn 3:16)”. Hence, servant leaders are required to submit what they have, their resources, ideology and even their lives. This doctrine is more enforced by teachings of Christianity that focus more on man’s relationship with God and his people instead of institutions and rules levied by them. A simple use of salt and light’s example illustrate how being a servant leader or making it part of lives can helps illuminate others lives and help them add meaning and purpose to it (Peregrym, 2011a). After gaining knowledge about servant leadership, it is important to analyze how they apply to our current settings in modern days. This analysis helped me understand that this kind of leadership can be applied to all aspects of our lives (Spears & Lawrence, 2004). Be it a life of a student, a teacher, a manager or even a parent, having a desire to help others and taking all the measures possible to do so would make servant leaders in real lives. In my current setting where I am a student, a family person having siblings, parents, friends and neighbors, I believe that this concept forces me to analyze my responsibility towards this society and also identify how I can make others life more meaningful. It can begin with simple gestures. I have a huge community where there are many students needing help, housewives needing counseling services, social services needing funds. Therefore, applying this concept of servant leadership allows me to be more empathetic towards those around me and go an extra mile to resolve their problems (Barbuto, 2007). I have learnt one thing that being a servant leader does not require being in power. It is about adding humility in the way you live, showing sympathy to others and follow a nature’s pattern of sharing just the way God and Jesus Christ did. As far as making this part leadership style part of my life is concerned, I have several plans for doing so. I can surely begin with changes within myself. I need to learn to let go of arrogance that comes with excessive power. I have acted as a leader for various community projects and household chores and feedback has made me understand that sometimes I tend to put my desire before others and impose my will instead of thinking about everyone else. Hence, I need to change from within (Spears & Lawrence, 2004). I will begin with helping my siblings with their studies. They are young and need mentoring. I can obviously share my experiences and knowledge with them without being condescending. Other than helping my family and friends in whatever manner they need, I want to begin with something that can benefit my community in the long-run. To begin with, I want to collect old books for children library in my community and also providing free of cost educational assistance to them for their studies. The reason for doing so is the struggle that these students go through while learning simple reading and writing. Since most of them go to public schools where teachers are already having many students that they cannot focus on an individual student, therefore free of cost educational assistance can help them in gaining true knowledge and learning new skills. I can obviously ask others for help and share how being a servant leader and thinking about others brings peace to us as well. I am aware of the fact servant leadership is a long-term commitment. It is not like helping our family with simple tasks that our parents and friends can thank us for and we all forget about it. Being a servant leader mean choosing a goal about making difference in others lives and remaining persistent about it (Spears & Lawrence, 2004; Barbuto, 2007). Thorough analysis of servant leadership settings helped me in developing understanding of this leadership style and its relevance to our normal lives, not just religious parts of it. I came to understand that being servant leader requires putting others needs first and trying to alleviate their lives by adding meaning to them and helping them develop and progress individually. However, it is not synonymous to welfare services. Since servant leadership is a name of lifestyle, focusing only on people would take equilibrium out of society. Hence, organizations and people need to develop simultaneously. Third lesson that I learnt was that being servant leader makes us responsible for those near us and also to those that do not relate to us. Hence, it provides foundation for the concept of welfare society and also for corporate citizenship which makes organizations perform actions that benefit society, nature and communities in turn. Other than that, it makes me understand how God, Jesus Christ and Church itself have practices this leadership. They have put welfare of humanity before everything else and to follow their legacy means practicing servant leadership. Servant leadership is not just limited to religious figures; it is our responsibility to make this humble approach part of our lives so that our little efforts can illuminate others lives. References Barbuto, J.E. (2007). Becoming a Servant Leader: Do you Have what It takes?, Retrieved from http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/live/g1481/build/g1481.pdf Peregrym, D. S. (2011a). Servant Leadership Job Description: Salt & Light. Peregrym, D.S. (2011b). Jesus Christ: The Servant Leader. Peregrym, D.S. (2011c). The Consideration of Servant Leadership. Peregrym, D.S. (2011d). Servant Leadership: Spheres of Influence. Peregrym, D.S. (2011e). The Consideration of Spiritual Leadership. Spears, L.C. & Lawrence, M. (2004). Practicing Servant-Leadership: Succeeding Through Trust, Bravery and Forgiveness, San Francisco, CA: Jossey Bass. Read More