Servant Leadership and ChristianityNameInstitutionInstructorCourseDate Servant Leadership and ChristianityAccording to Greenleaf’s principles of servant leadership, there are certain qualities, which a servant leader should possess which include commitment to other employees, conceptualization, empathy, a good listener, stewardship, and persuasive (Greenleaf et al., 2002). These qualities are also connected to the biblical teachings of Jesus Christ who focuses on serving others instead of being served. This was demonstrated when Jesus washed his disciple’s feet as a sign of how leaders should serve others and what impact that would have to the followers (John13:3-5, King James Version). Servant leadership comparison to biblical teachings is based on the principles of love, care, and humility. Jesus Christ instructed his followers to love one another just as they loved themselves which servant leadership is based on (Matthew 22:39).
Similarities and Differences between Greenleaf’s Principles of Servant Leadership and Those Presented in the Biblical Passages Using a Venn diagramAcceptanceEmpowerHealingStewardshipHow both Greenleaf and Christianity Call People to Serve and Discuss How One Feels When Called To Serve as a LeaderGreenleaf and Christianity both call people to serve by using leaders as good examples in the community, which helps in building and improving the society. Leaders through their service to the society can impact other individual to join them in serving (Northouse, 2013). Both Greenleaf and Christianity have principles, which focus on leaders serving their subordinates. The principles of Greenleaf and Christianity are based on the desire to serve others where Greenleaf believes that for a servant leader, his/her service comes first, which comes from a natural desire to serve (Greenleaf et al., 2002). In Christianity, leaders should be servants to other members which was demonstrated when Jesus washed his disciple’s feet.
Jesus also called us to serve (John 12:26). This is meant to show that as a leader, putting the needs of others before your own needs should come first. This is further demonstrated when Jesus commands us to serve (Luke 4:8). Greenleaf and Christianity share some common principles of servant leadership as seen in the Venn diagram, which include acceptance, being good stewards, and empowering others (Northouse, 2013). Through these principles, leaders are able to empower other members in the organization, which also adopt these principles as emulated by their leaders. Both Greenleaf and Christianity tie leadership together with service where Christianity perceives leaders to be the servants of God who are called to serve other individuals in addressing their needs (Northouse, 2013). Greenleaf’s principles also tie leadership with service through the belief that some individual have the natural desire to serve others.
According to Greenleaf, serving others is largely a natural desire which leaders posses. However, these leaders can be able to influence others in adopting servant leadership by encouraging other leaders in adopting this leadership approach (Greenleaf et al., 2002). Power comes from giving it away and putting oneself in the position to serve others. Leaders have power due to their positions in their organizations, which is further recognized by how the leaders use this power (Northouse, 2013).
Most of the leaders use the power entrusted to them in a negative way, which leads to reduced trust levels between the leaders and their subordinates. However, leaders may use power in the right way by serving other, which is important in empowering other members of the organization (Northouse, 2013). Empowering other members of the organization is important in improving the trust levels and respect between the leaders and their subordinates, which will also enable the leaders in achieving the set objectives of an organization (Northouse, 2013). Using Matthew 20:20-28 and Greenleaf’s principles of servant leadership as a basis, taking the role of a servant can make one a leader by using his/her position to help and serve others in addressing their needs which is the responsibility of every leader (Northouse, 2013).
Since leaders have access to power due to their positions in an organization, this power can be focused on serving others in an organization. A leader has the responsibility of empowering his/her subordinates and helping them in their growth and development (Northouse, 2013). By serving others, a person can be a leader since he/she helps individual in achieving the goals and objectives of an organization, which is the main responsibility of leaders in an organization (Northouse, 2013).
Jesus challenged two of his disciples by telling them that for them to become leaders they must be servants (Matthew 20:26-27). Serving others will bring all the attributes of a leader, which include power, respect, and loyalty (Northouse, 2013). ReferencesGreenleaf, R. K., Spears, L.
C., Covey, S. R.
, & Senge, P. M. (2002).
Servant leadership: A journey into the nature of legitimate power and greatness. New York: Paulist Press.Northouse, P. G. (2013). Leadership: Theory and practice.
Los Angeles: Sage.
