Servant Leadership

Question 1

What are the six elements of servant leadership?

Answer 1

1. Voluntary subordination
2. Authentic self
3. Responsible morality
4. Transcendental spirituality
5. Covenantal relationship
6. Transforming influence

Question 2

What are SL’s criticisms of common leadership approaches?

Answer 2

Focused on profit and performance at the expense of staff.

Employees treated as a means to an end.

Neglects emotional, ethical and spiritual dimensions that make up a person.

Question 3

What is the acid test of leadership?

Answer 3

Do followers become developed, empowered, freer, more independent, more likely to servants themselves under leaderships influence?

Question 4

Which three dimensions have empirical support in terms of impact on trust?

Answer 4

Covenantal relationship
Responsible morality
Transforming influence

Question 5

What are the pillars of authentic self?

Answer 5

Humility
Accountability
Vulnerability
Security
Integrity

Question 6

What is humility?

Answer 6

An accurate appraisal of one’s self and/or abilities.

Question 7

What is accountability?

Answer 7

Individuals or institutions are held responsible for every action they take, and the consequences of the action.

Question 8

What is vulnerability?

Answer 8

Opening of one’s self to risk of attack or pain, by showing complete involvement. Facilitates trust.

Question 9

What is integrity?

Answer 9

The congruence between beliefs and behaviour. Honesty.

Question 10

What is security?

Answer 10

Acceptance of one’s self, strengths and weaknesses.

Question 11

What are self concordant goals?

Answer 11

Goals that represent one’s interests, values and aspirations.

Question 12

What is the flow state?

Answer 12

A state of being, where there is complete wholeness and engagement in an activity.

Question 13

What are the four elements of transcendental spirituality?

Answer 13

Transcendental beliefs -
Interconnectedness -
Sense of mission -
Wholeness -

Question 14

What two elements make up voluntary subordination?

Answer 14

1. Being a servant - altruistic self concept.

2. Acts of service - facilitate potential of others.

Question 15

What are the three forms of false self?

Answer 15

1. Multiple self - different social roles
2. Part self - suppressed unwanted traits
3. Role based self - contextual influence (zimbardo)

Question 16

What are the four elements of Covenantal relationships?

Answer 16

1. Acceptance - unconditional without judgement.
2. Availability - give necessary resources to followers.
3. Equality - fairness, trust building
4. Collaboration - interdependent roles and work.

Question 17

What are the four values of transcendental spirituality?

Answer 17

1. Transcendental belief - greater than self interest.
2. Interconnectedness - integration of self to world.
3. Sense of mission - drive for meaning and purpose.
4. Wholeness - not resources, human beings.

Question 18

What are the five steps of transforming influence?

Answer 18

1. Vision - core ideology and envisioned future.
2. Empowerment - facilitate growth of others
3. Modelling - setting personal examples
4. Mentoring - guiding interpersonal relationship
5. Trust - acceptance of state of vulnerability

Question 19

What are the three differences for SL in terms of transforms influence relative to other leadership approaches?

Answer 19

1. Object - transforming for sake of followers
2. Direction - transforming in multiple dimensions.
3. The method - transforming the organisation one follower at a time.