I agree with the idea that the best leaders start off as servants first. It is much easier to follow someone who you can relate too or to follow someone who you think you could become one day. it gives you motivation and can make your relationship with the leader better. I also agree that servant-leaders are more likely to understand humility, unlike non-servant leaders who worry about their personal goals more than the common good. I also find Greenleaf’s use of the prophet interesting. It makes me think of religious times. I think Jesus would be a perfect example of a servant leader. Jesus began as a carpenter which is a humble job before he became a leader. Jesus understood what it was like to be a servant and often helped others who were at the bottom. Greenleaf uses Leo as another example of this but I think Jesus is just as good of an example.
The Servant as a Leader
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I completely agree, and I also think it gives them the perspective of the audience under the leader. Because, if the servant were to become a leader one day, they can look back at their time when they had a boss, and relate to their followers, but most importantly, lead with that perspective in mind.
I like your point that a servant leader can give a follower motivation. I agree because a follower can more easily see themselves in a servant-leader and thus believe in the end goal but also their own individual abilities.
I agree that servant-leaders are more likely to understand humility than non-servant leaders. Although some non-servant leaders may embody some of the ten characteristics of servant leaders, having all 10 as a servant leader seems much more appealing and implies more humility than a leader who was to only have a few. Working definitions are very important, as we have seen in class, and I think people are more drawn to servant leaders because of the servant leader’s definition as someone who listens, is empathetic, heals, is aware, persuades, conceptualizes, has foresight, has stewardship, and is committed to the growth of people, and building community.