Week 4 Primary Characteristics of Servant Leadership Discussion Paper

Week 4 Discussion: Becoming a Servant Leader

A servant leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. While traditional leadership generally involves the accumulation and exercise of power by one at the “top of the pyramid,” servant leadership is different. The servant leader shares power, puts the needs of others first, and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible.

To prepare for this Discussion:

• Review this week’s Learning Resources, especially
• o Kouzes, J. M., &Posner, B. Z. (2017). The leadership challenge: How to makeextraordinary things happen in organizations. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley &Sons.§ PRACTICE 3: CHALLENGETHE PROCESS§ Chapter 7: Search forOpportunities (pp. 145–168)§ Chapter 8: Experimentand Take Risks (pp. 169–192)
• o Focht, A. &Ponton, M. (2015, Spring). Identifying primary characteristics of servantleadership: Delphi study. International Journal of Leadership Studies,9(1), 44-61.

Post a cohesive response based on your analysis of the Learning Resources and your professional experience. Be sure to discuss the following:

• Identify a servant leader of your choice and explain how this individual meets the characteristics of a servant leader.
• Compare and contrast your own style of leadership to that of the selected servant leader and explain why you want to lead.
• Explain how being a servant leader will enhance your development as a transformational leader.
• Explain how 21st century communication skills will enhance your leadership abilities to motivate and inspire others.

Be sure to support your ideas by connecting them to the week’s Learning Resources, as well as other credible resources you have read, or what you have observed and experienced.

General Guidance: Your original post, due by Day 3, will typically be 1 full single space page in length, as a general expectation/estimate. Refer to the Week 4 Discussion Rubric for grading elements and criteria.

Required Readings

Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2017). The leadership challenge: How to make extraordinary things happen in organizations. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley & Sons.

• PRACTICE 3: CHALLENGE THE PROCESS
  • Chapter 7, “Search for Opportunities” (pp. 145–168)
  • Chapter 8, “Experiment and Take Risks” (pp. 169–192)
  • Start with WHY. Know HOW.
  • Know WHY. Know HOW. Then WHAT?
  • Communication is not about speaking. Its about listening

Sinek, S. (2009) Start with why: How great leaders inspire everyone to take action.

PART 4: HOW TO RALLY THOSE WHO BELIEVE

Focht, A. & Ponton, M. (2015, Spring). Identifying primary characteristics of servant leadership: Delphi study. International Journal of Leadership Studies, 9(1), 44-61.

Donohue, M. (2017) The Marsha moment: The death of the manage me workplace [White paper]. Retrieved September 13, 2017

Martin, L., & Verdorfer, A. P (2017). Can servant leaders fuel the fire? The leadership between servant leadership and followers’ leadership avoidance.

Required Media

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtDxPcQ8GJg

TED. (Producer). (2016). Dr Mary Donohue: How to get along with Boomers, Gen Xers, and Millennials [Video file] Retrieved September 13, 2017.