The Concept of Servant Leadership - Essay Example

In line with the traits development, self-centeredness and self-focused are major obstacles in developing a servant leadership style (Blanchard and Hodges, 42). Servant leadership involves understanding the various issues of selflessness and focusing on the team and not the leader.

However, self-focused and self-centeredness are issues present in humanity. Individuals tend to focus on their success instead of the success of the team members or members of the community. Therefore, by nature, human beings tend to be focused on themselves and not others. Despite the challenges of self-centeredness, when a person matures, he learns to understand that the world is not about how much one can get, but how much one can give to others. The concept of service to others is integral in the development of servant leadership, which is a concept developed by Jesus (Blanchard and Hodges, 40). The concept revolves around caring for others and having love. Leaders motivated by self-interest tend to place their agendas, status, safety and gratification above those people they influence. In such cases, the leaders become self-serving and not serving leaders. Self-serving leaders view feedback as criticism and a threat to their leadership style (Blanchard and Hodges, 41). They do not offer a chance for the members to contribute to the development of the organization or team.

The heart of a servant leader involves being meek, humble and loving. The depiction of love in all issues undertaken including the disciplinary action will ensure harmony in the group. A servant leader must focus on the well-being of others and not himself. Jesus in his servant leadership model employed the use of love in handling the diverse issues within the organization. In fact, in all his decisions, he considered the impact of the decisions on his members. For instance, he did not send Judas Iscariot away but kept him close to other disciples (Blanchard and Hodges, 38). The depiction of love to Judas was to help in developing his character. The idea of selflessness in leadership is depicted in the life of Jesus. Servant leadership involves selflessness and focus on the well-being of society rather than the individual.

 Jesus developed harmony with the disciples by always showing care and accepting feedback. In one case, he asked the disciples who they perceived he is. The approach was used to collect feedback and accept criticism. He handled the criticism positively by showing love, humbleness and meekness in all answers provided. Servant leadership involves understanding the needs of others and developing strategies and actions to solve the needs (Blanchard and Hodges, 39). Leadership driven by pride and selfish motive leads to the destruction of the organization or group. In Jesus' leadership, individuality was avoided and the concept of selflessness was instilled. When talking to the rich young ruler, Jesus answered by telling him to go and sell all his property and give to the poor, which illustrates a service-driven leadership. Therefore, the heart of a servant leader must be filled with love, humility, gentleness and selflessness.