Developing the Self Leader

Getting Started

“Leaders inspire accountability through their ability to accept responsibility before they place blame.”

― Courtney Lynch, Author of Spark: How to Lead Your

self and Others to Greater Success

Robert Greenleaf, considered the seminal thinker and author on Servant Leadership theory, wrote: “The

servant

-

leader is a servant first…It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first.

Then con

scious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is

leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material

possessions…The leader

-

first and the servant first are two extre

mes. Between then are shadings and

blends that are part of the infinite variety of human nature” (1977, p. 27). Servant leaders ask questions

like: are those being served to become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, and more likely to

become servant

s themselves? Are those being served growing as persons and/or professionals?

The Ghanem and Castelli article Self

-

accountability in the literature of leadership(PDF document) stated:

“The characteristics and features of self

-

leadership can represent a fu

ndamental practical path to

increase self

-

accountability. Self

-

leadership increases self

-

accountability by improving leadership

performance, where the integration between the two practices helps leaders accomplish positive and

ethical behaviors within thei

r organizations” (p. 51). The Luttrell and Ngo article, Servant leadership:

What is it and how can it help you?(new tab) explained various practical elements that contribute to the

effective practice of servant leadership in the workplace, including seven

pillars of servant leadership

theory. The Sinek’s video, Responsibility and Leadership(new tab), also offered insights into the role of

accountability in leadership. Using concepts we’ve learned from all three of this week’s assigned

materials, plus other

ideas from other resources that you locate in your reading, we will engage in a

vigorous discussion of self

-

accountability. Specific instructions are listed below.

How Do You Hold Yourself Accountable?

Getting Started

“Leaders inspire accountability through their ability to accept responsibility before they place blame.”

― Courtney Lynch, Author of Spark: How to Lead Yourself and Others to Greater Success

Robert Greenleaf, considered the seminal thinker and author on Servant Leadership theory, wrote: “The

servant-leader is a servant first…It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first.

Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is

leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material

possessions…The leader-first and the servant first are two extremes. Between then are shadings and

blends that are part of the infinite variety of human nature” (1977, p. 27). Servant leaders ask questions

like: are those being served to become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, and more likely to

become servants themselves? Are those being served growing as persons and/or professionals?

The Ghanem and Castelli article Self-accountability in the literature of leadership(PDF document) stated:

“The characteristics and features of self-leadership can represent a fundamental practical path to

increase self-accountability. Self-leadership increases self-accountability by improving leadership

performance, where the integration between the two practices helps leaders accomplish positive and

ethical behaviors within their organizations” (p. 51). The Luttrell and Ngo article, Servant leadership:

What is it and how can it help you?(new tab) explained various practical elements that contribute to the

effective practice of servant leadership in the workplace, including seven pillars of servant leadership

theory. The Sinek’s video, Responsibility and Leadership(new tab), also offered insights into the role of

accountability in leadership. Using concepts we’ve learned from all three of this week’s assigned

materials, plus other ideas from other resources that you locate in your reading, we will engage in a

vigorous discussion of self-accountability. Specific instructions are listed below.

How Do You Hold Yourself Accountable?