Leadership That Makes an Impact

Leadership that Makes an Impact Matthew Miles, M.A.

Servant Leadership = is a paradox: both service and influence = Servant leaders put followers first

Greenleaf’s Definition is Servant leadership begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. . . . The difference manifests itself in the care taken by the servant—first to make sure that other people’s highest priority needs are being served.

The best test . . . is: do those served grow as persons; do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become a servant?

And, what is the effect on the least privileged in society; will they benefit, or, at least, will they not be further deprived?”

A Servant Leader has a Social Responsibility • To be concerned about the “have-nots”

• Those less privileged • If inequalities and social injustices exist, a servant leader tries to remove them.

• Servant leadership values community because it proves a face-toface opportunity for individuals to experience interdependence, respect, trust, and individual growth • (From Greenleaf, 1970)

10 Characteristics of a Servant Leader (Spears, 2002) 1

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Listening - acknowledging the viewpoint of followers and validating these perspectives.

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Empathy – “standing in the shoes” of another person and attempting to see the world from that person’s point of view.

Healing – in helping followers become whole, servant leaders are themselves healed.

10 Characteristics of a Servant Leader (Spears, 2002)

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Awareness – understanding oneself and the impact one has on others.

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Persuasion – creates change through gentle, nonjudgmental argument.

Conceptualization – the ability to be a visionary for an organization.

10 Characteristics of a Servant Leader (Spears, 2002) 7

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Foresight – the ability to predict what is coming based on what is occurring in the present and what has happened in the past.

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Stewardship – carefully managing the people and organization one has been given to lead.

Holding the organization in trust for the greater good of society.

Commitment to the Growth of People – treating each follower as a unique person with intrinsic value beyond what he/she contributes to the organization.

10 Characteristics of a Servant Leader (Spears, 2002) 10

Building Community – allowing followers to identify with something greater than themselves that they value.

Creating Value for the Community • Servant leaders create value for the community by consciously and intentionally giving back to the community.

• They are involved in local activities and encourage followers to also volunteer for community service.

Outcome of Servant Leadership Societal Impact • Positive impact on the society

• Putting others first include positive social change and helps society flourish.

The Importance of Knowledge (Stanley Loewen) 1

Be the Best at What You Do - The first kind of knowledge you should seek to accumulate is knowledge that relates to your lifestyle and to what you do.

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For Innovation – Two ways to become an innovator. | 1) To be a complete novice or 2) to be an expert in the field. Too much of one area is dangerous. | To be a true innovator – to improve the world around you and to go down in history – you need knowledge.

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For Social Reasons - it is a sure way to win respect and follow. A socially engaged leader provide the best advice and the best recommendations, lack of knowledge can be highly embarrassing, and On the other hand having something interesting and insightful to bring to everyone conversation will make you seem attractive, intelligent and well read

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To Adapt to Situations - The more knowledge you have the more likely you are to be able to adapt to the situation and to help yourself and others.

For Power - In short, the more you know, the better you will be able to manipulate your surroundings and the more you will be free from usual restraints. Knowledge then really is power.

Create Your Impact Initiative • Use Newspaper to locate a societal issue and create a program around it.

Servant Leader Evaluation

True leadership must be for the benefit of the followers, not to enrich the leader.

John C. Maxwell