Order from us for quality, customized work in due time of your choice.
Introduction
The purpose of this essay is to analyze the increasingly popular concept of servant leadership and to show in what way followership contrasts and at the same time complements it. The attitude to leaders in various spheres has changed dramatically, as young generations tend to be motivated by the ability to make the world a better place by working in dedicated teams in a high-trust environment. Empowerment philosophy, which implies creating new ways in which leaders can systematically support, educate, and motivate subordinates, is the key to great performance in almost any activity.
The Concept of Servant Leadership in History
The ideas behind servant leadership can be traced back to numerous philosophies of ancient civilizations. Notably, some of the ideas of Tao Te Ching and Confucius, which echo the concept of servant leadership, can give an insight into the way modern Chinese view their leaders and society in general. Throughout history, various philosophies and religions have taught people that leaders should listen attentively to their subordinates suggestions and concentrate on their wellbeing, as they are always the main workforce. Blanchard and Broadwell (2018) state that thanks to a shift to servant leadership, lower-ranked employees experience more passion about work, collaborate more, and engage in innovation behaviors that propel the business. The ability to put other peoples needs before own is essential for a leader whose subordinates are motivated and enthusiastically contribute to the companys success.
The Role of Servant Leaders
The need for servant leaders in completely different organizations has become vivid, as the growing complexity of jobs available means that employees are expected to engage in a wider variety of spheres than they used to. Employees are expected to analyze the companys activities and come up with new ways of rationalizing the processes they take part in. Currently, the abundance of information makes it absolutely impossible to make decisions and take risks without having a conversation with a wide range of people who are involved in the project. Followers should observe the servant leader honestly sharing both positive and negative information in an effort to enhance the welfare of the organization (Davis, 2017, p. 194). In the 21st century, trust is essential for any team, as subordinates should have the chance to deliver negative feedback and their visions to their bosses.
Difference Between Servant Leaders and Followers
Servant leaders do not usually have the same motivation, as common leaders whose primary aims are ambitions, power, and material wealth. Although both leader types used to provide great outcomes, now the ability to understand the reasoning behind other peoples actions and finding the key tools for motivating them have become central to any organizations success. What is more, promoting great followers now tends to result in success more often, as followership implies surrendering ego and staying loyal and dedicated under any circumstances. People who have an irresistible inner desire to govern, arguably, will no longer make great future leaders, as servant leader actually needs to possess the same qualities a good follower has. Nowadays, a harmonic boss-employee relationship is established when followers witness servant leaders seeking to develop the followers in an effort to help the followers achieve their full potential (Davis, 2017, p. 194). Thus, a skilled follower can eventually become a servant leader who will be a coach for the next generation.
Conclusion
Being dedicated to the duties and quietly reporting to the leader have always been considered crucial for a typical follower. Nevertheless, now such person can be easily perceived as the new leader in the same organization when he/she has enough skills. The most important part is that these skills are commonly developed through the motivation and the assistance of a previous caring leader. The ability to empower is a vital quality of a great servant leader, as he/she will always stay as loyal and dedicated as a typical follower he/she once used to be.
References
Blanchard, K. & Broadwell, R. (2018). Servant leadership in action: How you can achieve great relationships and results. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
Davis, C. J. (2017). Servant leadership and followership: Examining the impact on workplace behavior. Springer.
Order from us for quality, customized work in due time of your choice.