Principles
A servant leader is a person who involves other in decision-making because he or she believes that for one to be a leader, he or she must be a servant first. Servant leaders use ethical skills for the growth of business and enhance the caring and character of the business life. They listen to others and consider their opinions, and they are empathy in that they understand other employees and employers in the organization. They also heal the relationship in their workplace, and they have strong general awareness principles that help them to understand power, ethics and values of other people within the organization. They persuade people on decision making other than commanding them, and they have an ability to oversee how the business will behave if they apply the right concept in their production and sales services. They practice conceptualization by dreaming big, and they practice stewardship that shows how committed they are to serve others. They are also committed to the growth of other people especially workers, and they are also committed to building community under which workers in a given institution can be proud to have ownership and recognition (Spears, 2010).
Servant leadership from the Bible
Biblically, servant leadership is serving as servants of other people. Servant leaders are leaders who invest their time in the lives of other people so that as they lead, they already know what people want and expect. Mark 10:42-45 says, And Jesus called them to him and said to them that anyone considered as strong is he who has ever served, or anyone who has been a slave. This was shown by Jesus who was believed to come to the earth to serve and save many people out of sins.
A good example of a servant leader of all time is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His life was an example of a servant leader, as he offered visions, he listened to other people, he persuaded by the use of reasons, and healed divisions by building community. He left a legacy of courage that every other leader discerns. At one point or the other, Dr. Luther asked the people not to remember him because of the prizes and accolades he had managed to win, but as a drum major for justice. To him, greatness meant serving and that was why he served Americans with equality and with his Christian beliefs, he advocated civil rights by the use of non-violent civil disobedience (McGuire & Hutchings, 2007).
References
Mark 10:42-45
McGuire, D., & Hutchings, K. (2007). Portrait of a Transformational Leader: The Legacy of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 28(2), 154-166.
Spears, L. C. (2010). Character and Servant Leadership: Ten Characteristics of Effective, Caring Leaders. The Journal of Virtues & Leadership, 1(1), 25-30.
