Are Servant Leaders Born or Made?

2014. Servant Leadership: Theory & Practice Volume 1, Issue 1, 46-52

7 Pages Posted: 19 Mar 2016

See all articles by Victor V. Claar

Victor V. Claar

Florida Gulf Coast University

Lonnie Jackson

Henderson State University

Vicki TenHaken

Hope College

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

Claar, Victor V. and Jackson, Lonnie and TenHaken, Vicki, Are Servant Leaders Born or Made? (March 17, 2016). 2014. Servant Leadership: Theory & Practice Volume 1, Issue 1, 46-52 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2749273

Victor V. Claar (Contact Author)

Florida Gulf Coast University ( email )

10485 FGCU Blvd S
Ft. Myers, FL 33965-6565
United States
2395907361 (Phone)

Lonnie Jackson

Henderson State University ( email )

1100 Henderson Street
Arkadelphia, AR 71999-0001
United States
870-230-5311 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.hsu.edu/Academics/SchoolOfBusiness/faculty-staff.html

Vicki TenHaken

Hope College ( email )

United States
(616) 395-7872 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.hope.edu/academic/economics/tenhaken/tenhakenindex.htm

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
2,231
Abstract Views
6,289
Rank
12,547
PlumX Metrics