Servant Leadership Approach

Analyzing and Contrasting Transformational and Servant Leadership

There are many varying approaches to leadership. Some leadership approaches are established on the traits in which the leaders exemplify. While others are based on behaviors that focus on the leaders’ behaviors and how it may influence followers.

In this paper we will place focus on the transformational and servant leadership approaches. Both of these approaches can be labeled as relational approaches, as they are situated on the relationship between a leader and a follower. The relationship between leaders and followers play are important aspects in the in each of these approaches. As indicated by Kouzes and Posner (2017), “empirical research shows that leaders who spend the

“Servant leadership emphasizes that leaders be attentive to the concerns of their followers, empathize with them, and nurture them” (Northouse, 2016, p. 225). In 2002, Larry C. Spear identified ten characteristics that he deemed critical to the servant leadership approach (Spear and Lawrence, 2002). These characteristics include listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion as well as conceptualization, foresight, stewardship commitment to the growth of people and building community. These characteristics construct a pragmatic blueprint of what servant leadership approach signifies. During this research they were able to describe the fundamental attributes of servant leadership. These attributes were classified in two categories: functional attributes and accompanying attributes.

Servant leadership is about exposing followers to new experiences and helping them to recognize their potential and how to maximize that potential. It is about understanding the follower and seeing things from their perspective. It is about humbling one’s self in order to focus on the needs of others and it involves the having the intelligence to look ahead to the future and to help others to see into the future. It is inspiring followers to envision the great possibilities for their lives and helping them set into motion the work to achieve those

The transformational leadership approach has a focal point in making sure the follower achieves the prime interest of the vision of the leader. Whereas servant leadership, the principle element is that of the interest of the follower and their well-being. Servant leadership is not based on getting results, however, the main focus is serving others. Whereas transformational leadership is results driven and strive for organizational results. Harvey (as cited in Stone, Russell, & Patterson) contends that the servant leader’s primary objective is the workers and their growth, then the customer base and finally the organizational bottom line (p.