Servant Leadership Essay-1
Servant Leadership Essay
MHR-3110 Personal Leadership Development
Ms. Pam Costa, M.A.
April 2, 2013
Servant Leadership Essay-2
One of the questions frequently asked of us is “whom do you admire the most?”
People will usually respond with a story about someone who they admire, someone that
had shown a random act of kindness, or someone who had been through a lot and
triumphed despite the circumstances. What makes these people stand out among
others, one may ask? When we examine their characteristics, we will find a common
trait that will be similar to those found in a servant leader. Servant leadership is “an
understanding and practice of leadership that places the good of those led over the self-
interest of others (Servant Leadership, 2013).”
Being a servant leader is a calling or a particular vocation. A vocation is defined
as an occupation to which a person is specially drawn for which he or she is suited,
trained or qualified (Vocation, 2013). When a person hears the word “calling,” one
usually thinks just of those that are in the ministry. However, everyone is called to do
something regardless of the vocation. In Ephesians 4:11-12 of the New Living
Translation of the Bible it states “He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the
apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their
responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body
of Christ.” Every Christian is called to be part of God’s kingdom building. We are not
born as a servant leader, but rather we are developed to be servant leaders.
Leaders do not always have to come from a perfect environment and may not
have started out on the right path. Every revered leader started out as an ordinary
individual that has submitted himself to the process of growth. Being a servant leader
starts with having the heart of a servant while leading others. How does one develop
this kind of character? We start with being an excellent example or model. John
Servant Leadership Essay-3
Maxwell identified five principles that can serve as signposts for growth to modeling the
way:
1. Work on yourself before you work on others.
2. Work on yourself more than you work on others.
3. It is easier to teach what is right than to do what is right.
4. People do what they see.
5. The example of others profoundly impacts our lives. (Kouzes & Posner,
2004, p.42)
Change begins from within one’s self. In order to change one’s self, He has to
know whom he is. We have to know what one’s basic values are and be able to
