Research Question 1
With the rise of technology over the past few decades, an increasingly
connected global business environment has demanded more leaders than ever
before. Not only are strong, successful leaders in high demand, but, more
specifically, leaders that can successfully lead teams and organizations to group
success while maintaining a humble attitude that can help those in leadership
positions to relate to their inferiors in the workplace.
One recent study suggests that humility and success go hand-in-hand in
regards to leadership, and when leaders exemplify personal humility in the
workplace, they are more likely to succeed as an individual, as well as having a
lasting positive effect on their employees [Pri14]. This study gives the reader in-
depth insight into how humble leaders are among the most successful in the modern
business environment, including how accepting criticism, accountability, and trust
are some of the most crucial elements of modern leadership.
Another key aspect of humility in a successful leader is that humble leaders
excel at demonstrating selflessness in the workplace. According to business
researchers Prime and Salib, some of the ways a leader can signal selflessness
include: accepting the occasional mistake and using it as a learning tool for future
reference, discussing different viewpoints without denigrating, and accepting that
not one specific employee will have all the answers to particular problems or
scenarios [Pri14]. For leaders, demonstrating these humble and selfless traits help
them to relate to their employees on a more personal level, as well as empowering
their employees to unlock their full potential.
Research Question 2
Just as the trait of humility as become more desired in business leaders today,
servant leadership has also become a characteristic that is important for leaders to
exemplify. Numerous scholar assert that the aspect of servant leadership in a
business management setting has a profound and lasting effect on the attitudes and
performance of subordinates in the workplace, especially as it pertains to the
relationship of trust and responsibility between a manager and their employees
[Cha14].
As the aspect of management that is servant leadership has become the focus
of more and more studies of different management techniques and their impact on
employees, it has become increasingly clear that there is a direct relationship
between servant leadership and job satisfaction. Employees who work beneath a
servant leader repeatedly claim that they feel that they have a high value in their
organization, which in turn results in higher productivity and efficiency for the
organization for which they work [Cha14].
To further this point, studies explicitly demonstrate that employees who
work under a manager who is a servant leader also indicate that the resolution of
conflicts within the workplace are resolved much more quickly than when working
under managers who use a more traditional approach, simply due to the fact that
they feel that they can relate to their peers and managers on a more personal level
[Jit16].
From the above examples, the reader can gain a deeper understanding of how
servant leadership is essential in the modern business environment because it
encourages relationships of trust and understanding, as well as providing job
satisfaction and increased productivity and efficiency in the workplace.
Research Question 3
There are numerous Biblical examples where Jesus provides his followers
with examples of serving others before Himself as a leader, as well as remaining
humble in doing so. The whole purpose of Jesus’ life on earth was to serve humanity
and provide them with an opportunity to live an eternal life with Him in heaven
rather than living apart from Him in Hell. The number one reason for being in
business is to generate profits for shareholders. As Christians in the business world,
we are called to a higher purpose than to solely turn profits. We are encouraged to
be good stewards of shareholders’ funds, but engaging in activities that are both
legal and ethical according to the principles found in the Bible, specifically those
taught by Jesus himself.
Biblical Integration
There is perhaps no greater example of servant leadership found in the Bible
than in John chapter 13, where Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. In this verses
12-17, Jesus explains his reasoning in doing so by stating that no servant is greater
than their master. As business managers, Christians should take every opportunity
to figuratively “wash the feet” of their employees. Doing so shows that the manager
does not believe they are any greater than anyone else in the workplace, and fosters
a relationship that is founded on trust and equality.
References
Chan, S. C., & Mak, W.-m. (2014). The impact of servant leadership and subordinates’
organizational tenure on trust in leader and attitudes. Personnel Review, 43
(2), 272-287.
Jit, R., Sharma, C., & Kawatra, M. (2016). Servant leadership and conflict resolution:
A qualitative study. International Journal of Conflict Management , 27 (4),
591-612.
Prime, J., & Salib, E. (2014, May 12). The best leaders are humble leaders. Retrieved
January 19, 2017, from Harvard Business Review:
https://hbr.org/2014/05/the-best-leaders-are-humble-leaders
