BUILDING ON SERVANT LEADERSHIP FOR VALUE-BASED LEADERSHIP PRACTICE TODAY

“A great man is hard on himself; a small man is hard on others.” Confucius

​

There is widespread acknowledgement that we are experiencing a global business leadership crisis now, and it is not looking good for the future at this time.  Business leaders are grappling with competitiveness and sustainability challenges during very uncertain economic times. The fact that CEO’s widely grapple with mostly relationship-based leadership issues in the business, some have indicated that a professional discipline in leadership practice is needed that focuses on motivating employees to work productivity for business success. But major financial investments in the development of leaders have not resulted in a return on investments. 

Besides emphasizing a more systemic approach to leadership, some have suggested that Greenleaf’s focus on ‘servant leadership’ may have the potential to address the business productivity issues and ultimate greater success. Greenleaf saw that passionate, committed, and productive employees are key to business success. Kellerman was ambivalent about being able to improve business leadership practise quality and even suggested that the professional leadership discipline might best be discontinued. 

In my view, the matter of confusing and competitive business management vs leadership debate today is limiting the positive impact and potential of both. It is not a matter of one or the other, as they are clearly interdependent. .But which one dominates is critically important. To me, the question pertains to how the two properly inter-relate in a seamless way for best business performance results. There is much literature on facets of each other, but very little discussion of integrated theory made value-based. The relative absence of shared leadership values, I believe, is what is missing today. I believe it is only values that can resolve the issue.

​​

To keep reading, download the full article below!