Servant Leadership

In terms of leadership, you can use different styles and different theories. Some theories include characteristics, behavior, and randomness. Daft (2008) noted that the property approach is an understanding of leadership and focuses on the personal characteristics of leaders. The behavioral approach focuses on leaders who take appropriate action. He also pointed out that contingency theory is explaining the relationship between leadership style and effectiveness in a particular context. It combines features and behavioral methods (Daft, 2008, pp. 38, 43, 64).

In the 1970s, two other styles of servant leadership and transformational leadership were born. Servant leadership style, as defined by Robert Greenleaf, the founder of Servant Leadership Movement and Green Leaf Servant Leadership Center, motivates employees by building relations and skill development. The servant leader meets the needs of the team and welcomes input decisions. Some of the features of this style are vision, listening, persuasion, and commitment. The transformational leadership defined by James MacGregor Burns, an American historian and leadership research institution, is a process whereby leaders and followers will help each other to improve morale and motivation. Leaders are well known for inspiring leaders who define and guide change. They are often described as attractive and confident people who others want to obey.

Discussion of servant leadership by Graham distinguishes between innovative leadership and servant leadership. A transformational leadership model was invented in 1985 by James MacGregor Burns and Bernard Bass in 1985. The major difference between innovative leadership and employee leadership is the leader's focus. The servant leader focuses on serving followers, customers, and organizations, but change leaders focus on the organization's goals. The servant leader is influenced by meeting the needs of others and the change leader is influenced by modeling. Although servant leaders promote team problems to tackle personal development, change leaders use persuasive power to promote personal influence. Although servant leaders are motivated by providing autonomy and resources, change leaders are motivated by personal charisma to achieve a common goal.