Servant leadership

individual. Three of those times were from collectivists and one from an individualist. It needs to

be mentioned that this individualist was born in a collective culture to missionaries and lived

there until 16. So even though his passport is from an individualistic country, he often thinks like

a collectivist.

The responses of the collectivists seem to be connected to power distance and honor. If a

person has a high power distance, they are in a place of honor. Therefore, they do not need to

listen, but they can ascribe honor to someone by listening to them if they do.

C-5 mentioned that he would greet the guest in hospitality, "It is an honor to meet you."

The second most mentioned response by three participants believe in the individual (two

by individualists and one by a collectivist). That was followed by believing in someone's calling

(2 individualists). Two collectivists said you value the individual through friendship.

Interestingly, collectivists saw valuing the individual through relationship. They talked

about listening, being friends, and one even mentioned spending time with someone. On the

other hand, individualists value the individual by believing in their potential and calling.

Evaluating the responses, the individualists echo what is written about the value:

believing in someone's gifts and calling. However, for the collectivist, valuing the individual

means embracing that individual into the collective.

Servant Leadership

The following three questions bring us to the value of servant leadership. The value reads:

“11. Exhibit servant leadership

YWAM is called to servant leadership as a lifestyle, rather than a leadership hierarchy. A

servant leader is one who honors the gifts and callings of those under his/her care and guards

their rights and privileges. Just as Jesus served His disciples, we stress the importance of

those with leadership responsibilities serving those whom they lead.” (Youth With A Mission,

2021)

Here are the questions asked regarding servant leadership, “What does servant leadership

look like to you?” “Can you tell me a time when you acted like a servant leader?” “How does

servant leadership look in your cultural context?”

The word “dishes” came up six times in these last three questions, followed by other

ways to serve practically. The thought that went through my mind was, “In YWAM, we don’t

wash feet. We do dishes!”

C-3 responded, "What does servant leadership look like to you?" She answered, "It's

when I see a leader on the work DTS roster." Furthermore, she later stated, "So servant

leadership for me is truly when I struggle to find out who's the school leader and who's the base

leader because you just stay and you just serve."

There is the aspect of practical service in leadership that we really cannot get away from.

However, others did speak about other aspects of servant leadership that we usually do not think

about. C-2 said, "That's like a very used and abused word in YWAM." (C-2, personal

communication, Feb 9, 2021) Later on, he stated, "I think that value is applied in different levels.

You have this shallow you know servant leadership, and then you have this much mature deeper

servant leadership. We have the ability to confront."

C-2 does not deny the practical service that many people apply, but he addresses doing

the job that no one likes to do, and in this case, he talks about confrontation with a matching

story.

When asked the question, “How does servant leadership look in your cultural context?”

Five of them said that it is looked down upon in the Asian country they served in; three were

individualists, and two were collectivists. One more collective (C-2) alluded to it being seen as a

negative but did not directly say it. “I think in our culture cultural context when it comes to

servant leadership people will look at you small and degrading.” (C-4 personal communication,

Feb 10, 2021)

All of them but I-5 shared practical service is a part of servant leadership. Four

collectives and two individuals shared a story of practical service. I-1 shared why, as a guest

teacher in a school, they did dishes. “I suppose part of me was wanting to show them that no

one’s above doing this stuff. And it doesn’t matter whether I’m a staff or a leader or a teacher. I

should never be above doing the mundane stuff that we expect all the students to do. IF we

expect the students to do it we need to be willing to do it. And if I’m not willing to do it, then I

don’t have a servant heart.” (Feb. 4, 2021)

On the other hand, four individuals and one collective shared how to release others into

leadership as servant leadership. “It’s really like a sacrificial kind of leadership. It’s a service to

lift up leaders around you and mentor and train them to get on your level. It becomes more

sacrificial; less and less about yourself. But when you lead other peoples you try to serve them

and empower them to take your place.” (I-3 personal communication, Feb 13, 2021)

The one individualist I-4 who did not say anything about releasing leaders or providing

opportunity said this, "[Servant Leadership is] Not caring about a position that position does not

impact how you actually function on the day-to-day because you're a servant first and

foremost." (I-4, personal communication, Feb 23, 2021)