Are Servant Leaders Born or Made?
2014. Servant Leadership: Theory & Practice Volume 1, Issue 1, 46-52
7 Pages Posted: 19 Mar 2016
Date Written: March 17, 2016
Abstract
This essay examines whether servant leadership is an innate personality trait, a learned behavior, or a combination of both. Authentic servant leadership is based on the premise of serving others and putting others’ interests before personal interests (Greenleaf, 1977). If this premise is true, then many will be unable to practice servant leadership due to a lack of the prerequisite attributes of a servant leader. This study begins by discussing servant leadership as it relates to personality attributes. It next considers the possibility that servant leadership practices and attitudes may be formed and developed in those to whom servant leadership does not come naturally. If so, then servant leadership may potentially be utilized by those who are not natural servant leaders in one of two ways. First, it is possible that one may grow into an authentic servant leader through ongoing practice of the habits of servant leaders. If so, this is a powerful idea. Second, it seems possible that a skillful manager may potentially draw from the quiver of authentic servant leadership on a situational basis. The study concludes by evaluating each of these two possibilities.
Keywords: Corporate Culture, Firm, Firms, Organization
JEL Classification: D23, M14
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation