Leadership Studies Commons^™

Bernie’S Truth: Introducing Servant-Leadership Through A Case Study Of Leadership’S Effect On Organizational Culture, Randall Miller, Peter J. Flanagan

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

The narrative case study presented in this article takes place in a Midwestern city with a population that exceeds one hundred thousand residents. The city has a long history of labor/management problems complicated by political corruption and professional inbreeding with regard to appointing city employees; from the lowest levels to the very top leadership positions. The resulting organizational culture has created a cadre of Good 01' Boys where politics rule over expertise, common sense, and ethical judgment. It is in this environment we introduce Bernie Russo, a fictitious character based on the real prototype of command and control leadership that …

Body, Body’S Torment, Body’S Reprieve, Mary Jane Nealon

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

A poem by Mary Jane Nealon.

Confirmed, Mary Jane Nealon

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

A poem by Mary Jane Nealon.

Choices, Ketema Ross

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

A poem by Ketema Ross.

Servant-Leadership Characteristics, Personality Type, And The Hierarchy Of Functions, Beth A. Lafferty, Ralph Lewis, Larry C. Spears

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

The 2008 International Journal of Servant-Leadership featured a groundbreaking dialogue on Myers Briggs and Servant-Leadership written by Larry Spears and Ralph Lewis. In the intervening years, it has generated considerable interest among readers and researchers alike. Near the end of that dialogue, Larry asked Ralph this question: "I am wondering if there is something here for servant-leaders that might be explored over time as a developmental tool, or as a piece of writing that would address the sixteen types in relation to servant-leadership?"

A Servant-Leader Meditation, George Sanfacon, Larry C. Spears

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

This guided meditation is about opening your heart to all beings-including yourself-and wishing them well. It is an antidote to contracting around the pain and suffering of life, which separates us from others. The meditation can be read aloud or silently. Most importantly, it needs to be done slowly and in a quiet setting. So be sure to pause in the spaces indicated(...). Beyond that, there is no right way or wrong way to do the practice.

Teaching Corporate Governance In Mba Programs: The Servant-Leadership Test, Martha M. Geaney

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

Despite the fact that it has been ten years since scandals such as Enron, WorldCom, and Adelphia, accountability and ethical leadership issues in business organizations continue to occur. Legislative and regulatory compliance mandates such as Sarbanes Oxley have not stemmed some of these ethical breaches. Recent examples include the Madoff, Rothstein, and Stanford Ponzi schemes and the mortgage-backed securities perpetration that has rocked world markets. As a result, corporations are under renewed pressure from regulators, stockholders, and stakeholders to demonstrate that they have a moral conscience. In response to this pressure, some companies, whether they have been caught cheating, lying, …

Amazing Grace: Seeking Grace And Forgiveness In Law Enforcement, Lena I. Boesser-Koschmann

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

AMAZING GRACE Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found Was blind, but now I see ... T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far, And Grace will lead us home.

A Journey In Servant-Leadership, Larry C. Spears

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

As usual, I would like to start by commending all of our contributing authors in this year's journal. The articles contained within this issue offer a compelling deep vision for the future of servant-leadership. The articles in this volume also represent the diverse thinking of people from many countries, and a powerful landscape of human insight that inspires me.

Leadership And Foresight In A Changing And Challenging World: A Call For Servant-Leadership, David Whitfield

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

The greatest leader forgets himself and attends to the development of others. -Lao Tzu (600 BCE) This paper addresses four global leadership challenges that demand different leadership theories, models, and philosophies because of how these challenges affect and will continue to affect what the future portends for a changing world. They are persistent, potentially destructive, life-changing, and have been for many decades; they are also opportunities for corporate leaders to use their power to create possibilities throughout the world to minimize poverty, facilitate the acquisition of clean drinking water, decrease illiteracy, and diminish greed. What is the role of corporations …

Beyond The Paradoxical Shadow Of A Doubt: A Powerful Bond That Sustains Servant-Leaders In Their Struggle For Truth And Justice, Dung Q. Tran

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

The comprehensive study of leadership phenomena matters. Reasons abound for the need of both formal and informal leadership research in various contexts. Spears (1998) recognized the emergence of a significant "leadership and management paradigm for the 21st century" (p. xix). Jackson and Parry (2008) claimed that "leadership is widely seen as both the problem and solution to all manner of contemporary issues" (p. 9). A key buzzword in our modern times, leadership has "become a major issue in all forms of organizations" (Doohan, 2007, p. I). In the world of higher education, Greenleaf (1998) identified a "serious crisis of leadership …

One Woman’S Struggle: A Reflection Of Servant-Leadership, Margaret Muchiri

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

Kenya is a free democracy now. The British colonizers left Kenya in 1963 but they left a land devastated both in terms of a ruined ecosystem and an uprooted culture (Kemble, 2003, p. 206). In terms of an ecosystem, Kenya was reduced to a mere shell of its former self. Kenyan land had been deforested and its fertility exhausted by the colonial masters (Kenyatta, 1989; Maathai, 2006, pp. 3-8). Wangari Maathai, upon seeing the devastation, decided to do what she could to combat environmental and poverty issues arising from deforestation ("Wangari Muta Maathai," n.d., para. 2). Because of her, some …

Who Is The Servant-Leader?, Robert K. Greenleaf

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

EDITOR'S NOTE In each new volume of the journal, we are honored to present a reprint of Robert K. Greenleaf's work that previously appeared in the journal. In this installment, Greenleaf's essay "Who Is the Servant-Leader?" considers the nature of leadership juxtaposed against the nature of people who are natural servants and those who are natural leaders. His call to develop the inner life of humility, love, and service remains a clarion of true leadership for past, present, and future generations.

The Courage To Dismiss: An Act Of Stewardship, Carole J. Kitamura

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

A good teacher is critical to the academic success of students. Although we might prefer to hold onto the myth that a student's socioeconomic status or home life is the primary reason for success or failure in school (Haycock, Jerald, & Huang, 2001, p. 3), "the most important factor affecting student learning is the teacher" (Wright, Horn, & Sanders, 1997, p. 63). Schmoker (2006) added: "The single greatest determinant of learning is not socioeconomic factors or funding levels. It is instruction" (p. 7). The truth of these simple statements about the importance of effective instruction from a quality teacher should …

Talent Diversity In China: A Garden Of Learning Opportunities, Sylvia Van De Bunt-Kokhuis

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

In this article servant-leadership is highlighted in relation to nurturing the diversity of talents. Nurturing talent diversity means developing multiple competencies in individuals and in teams. Servant-leadership is a philosophy and practice of leadership, where leaders achieve results for their organizations by giving priority to the needs of those they serve. Servant-leaders are key in enhancing the full talent potential of people. Exploring and building talent competences is a life-long process in learning communities such as the home, the school, and the corporate workplace. China's fascination with Multiple Intelligences theory (Ml) can be traced back to the historical influence of, …

Between Heaven And Earth, Shann Ray

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

A poem by Shann Ray.

Fascism And Forgiveness, Eleni J. Kametas-Hicks

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

Leadership is a term often used in education and in the workplace. But the concept of servant-leadership "is often forgotten, and its principles are directly applicable to those who wish to lead" (Spears, 1995, p. 79). According to Robert Greenleaf, "servant-leadership begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead" (Spears, 1995, p. 4). When I thought about the word leader, there were several words that came to mind. Words such as powerful, assertive, and manager. These were the words traditionally found in a resume, listed on …

Emmanuel Edeh: Inspiring Twenty-First-Century Africans To Serve-First, Peter O. Amah

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

Edeh (1985) articulated a theory of being as mma-di-the good that is. This mma-di participates in the absolute goodness of God, who creates and sustains it. Every human being deserves sustenance and to have his/her dignity preserved. To serve the interests of mma-di as a priority, a leader devotes his/ her energy, resources, and life to prove in theory and practice that each individual, according to Ferch (2003), has "inherent worth, a dignity not only to be strived for, but beneath this striving, a dignity irrevocably connected to the reality of being human" (p. 2). It was with a similar …

The Heart Of Giving: Servant-Leadership And Purposeful Philanthropy, Richard Leider, Larry C. Spears

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

Chances are high that you wear one or more of the following hats: Philanthropic donor, volunteer, nonprofit leader, fundraising professional, and/or board trustee. Almost everyone who embarks on the journey of purposeful living eventually becomes both a philanthropist and a servant-leader. One person may give millions, another a few dollars, while others time, but the principle they follow is the same: the more you give the more you get back. This is not to say that philanthropists give with the sole intention of getting back-it only means that a basic principle of life is that you get back from the …

Justice And Forgiveness: Self-Responsibility And Human Dignity In The Midst Of Confiict, Rakiya Farah

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

Amartya Sen (2006) notes, "The world in which we live is not only unjust, it is, arguably, extraordinarily unjust" (p. 237). We live in an imperfect world. Of that, there is no doubt. One of the defining features of the last century has been the sheer extent of social disintegration, economic turmoil, and human violence made more potent by technological advancement. It is no surprise, then, that the role of leadership has been placed under increasing scrutiny as the world seeks new ways to address its problems. The question of justice in an imperfect and conflict-ridden world is a fundamental …

Waiting In Line, Muzabel Welongo

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

Having the only choice to wait in line, I spent five hours at water tap in a long line under a hot sun, so that I can get water. When there is no water taps in a village, rivers is the only hope. What happens when rivers also dry at same time?

Servant-Leadership And Life Satisfaction: The Mediating Role Of Justice, Job Control, And Burnout, Jari Hakanen, Dirk Van Dierendonck

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

When it comes to identifying and meeting the psychological needs of people in an organization, it is servant-leadership that emphasizes this aspect most, more than any other leadership theory. Servant-leadership theory positions the leader as worker-centered, personal growth-oriented, and focused on providing a sense of purpose. This holistic approach to leadership helps people find an intrinsic satisfaction in their job by emphasizing their sense of work as a calling (Correia de Sousa & Van Dierendonck, 2010). It promotes a sense of community, empowerment, and autonomy. It is, therefore, to be expected that the influence of servant-leadership extends beyond the direct …

Vipassana Meditation: The Path To Better Servant-Leadership, Antoinette Naranjo

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

Awareness is not a giver of solace-it is just the opposite. It is a disturber and an awakener. Able leaders are usually sharply awake and reasonably disturbed. They are not seekers after solace. They have their own inner serenity.

-Robert K. Greenleaf, Servant Leadership

Serving The Undeserving, Doug Crandall

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

How do you know if a prisoner is lying? His lips are moving. According to the Pew Center on the States, on January 1, 2010, one million six hundred twenty-one thousand two hundred and twelve human beings were living behind bars in the United States of America-incarcerated by a state or the federal government (2010). That is approximately one out of every one hundred Americans. In 1972, the total number was less than two hundred thousand (2010). The average annual cost to house an offender in the State of Washington is $36,000 (Washington State Department of Corrections, 2008). Assuming a …

“For-Benefit” Enterprise: Servant-Thriving-Restorative Leadership And Culture, James Hart, Paul Nakai

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

No abstract provided.

Servant-Leadership In Action: How Mission, Vision, And Values Are Conveyed, Jennifer Bell, Codi Bolding, Mary Delgadillo

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

Many corporate executives and business owners would agree that instilling the mission, vision, and values (MVV) throughout an organization can be a monumental task. Not only is it vital for leaders of an organization to communicate the MVV effectively to all staff, but also to engage its employees in the MVV. This research focused on an organization in the healthcare industry that uses the servant leadership model. The research question posed was, simply: How does the organization convey the mission, vision, and values throughout the organization?

The Hindi Language Film Swades: We, The People: A Different Kind Of Journey To The East, Kae Reynolds

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

Hesitating to act because the whole vision might not be achieved, or because others do not yet share it, is an attitude that only hinders progress. -M. K. Gandhi, epigraph of Swades: We, the People

The Servant-Leader As Healer, Shann Ray Ferch

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

When the phone call from my mother came it made everything seem far away. She told me my cousin, Jacine, a beautiful and intelligent young woman, had been killed in a drug shootout in the streets of Billings, Montana. Jade's life had been marred for some time by the hardened culture that haunts drug use everywhere, but of late she had emerged, married, and begun a new purchase on the kind of life she wanted. We all hoped so much for her, the shock of her death came like a cold dark undertow. But in the days ahead there would …

Life Of Justice And Forgiveness, Greg Smith

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

As an only child, I grew up in a home where love, compassion, forgiveness, and understanding were frequently observed and practiced, but very rarely put into words. Despite the fact that their marriage ended after several years of consistent arguing, my parents made a very concerted effort to raise me in an environment that embraced these unspoken truths. It was not uncommon for a disagreement between me and my parents to be resolved with nothing more than a subtle nod of the head, few brief words, and a hug. To me, growing up in the midst of these intangible notions …

Leadership Development For Today’S Ktunaxa Youth: Command Structure Versus The Crazy Dog Society, Christopher Horsethief

International Journal of Servant-Leadership

Block (2008) opens his book on the structure of belonging with the statement, "[S]ocial fabric of community is formed from an expanding shared sense of belonging...shaped by the idea that only when we are connected and care for the well-being of the whole that a civil and democratic society is created" (p. 9). The concept of belonging has been addressed directly in servant-leadership studies, including belonging to community or organization (Ba Banutu-Gomez, 2004 ), belonging and resiliency (Wheatley & Kellner-Rogers, 1998), belonging through a sharing of humanity with followership (Birkenmeier, Carson, & Carson, 2003). It can also be argued that …