Running head: DISCUSSION BOARD 1
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Discussion Board 1
BUSI 690 Policy and Strategy in Global Competition
Nguyet Nguyen
Liberty University
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How can a person become a successful leader by being humble?
Being humble, which is called humility, is one of critical traits to lead people to a
successful leadership. According to a research, organizations led by humble CEO achieve good
performance and sustain for a long time (Morris, Brotheridge and Urbanski, 2005). In Bible,
humility is defined as being respectful and modest to others. There are several ways humility can
help people become a great leader. Firstly, humble people are willing to learn new things and
others’ ideas. Openness to other opinions supports leaders in considering all options to give the
best decisions. In addition, people appreciate a leader who values their ideas rather than the one
who ignores theirs. Secondly, humble people tend to fulfill others’ needs first. In leadership
perspective, it reflects leader’s care about environment and members, which build up
connections between members’ need and organization’s goals. Finally, people with humility are
easy to admit their mistakes. Group members prefer a leader who takes his responsibility for the
failure to the one who blames it on others. Leader can gain trust from others when he admits his
mistakes, deals with and solve the problems.
Why is it an important leadership trait to serve others first?
Nowadays, servant leadership, which come from basis to serve others first, has been
embraced in competitive market (Cater and Beal, 2015). It is one of the most important traits for
any successful leaders. Firstly, serving others such as customers, stakeholders and colleagues
first build up their trust to the leadership. By caring and fulfilling what others need and desire,
leaders create a friendly working environment which encourages others to work for an
organization’s goals. Moreover, serving others first gives leaders a chance to gain unconventional
ideas to increase organization’s advantages. In the past, employee were asked to follow leaders’
instructions. They are hired to serve the employer. However, in modern market, leaders provide
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opportunities for employees to work on their own ideas which gains benefits to organizations.
Leaders also try to serve others first, but not put themselves in priority. A servant leader will not
force people to follow his opinions but consider others’ ideas to choose the best one. Servant
leaders also appreciate knowledge sharing and commitment of group members into common
goals (Tuan, 2016). These help to improve organization’s performance.
What is the importance of relying on Jesus’ will and ways as it relates to leadership?
Nowadays, organizations have to face with severe competition from domestic and
international companies. In order to achieve successes quickly, some companies have broken the
rule and involved in unethical issues such as Enron, Toshiba and so on. Seen in these cases,
leaders play a critical role in managing and developing organization’s strategies in this difficult
business environment. Leadership which is based on Jesus’ will and ways is very important and
highly encouraged. It helps organizations to avoid unethical shortcuts to success which can ruin
organizations. In Christian perspective, God always establishes the way for people in order to
fulfill their duties and enjoy the glory of God. Proverbs 19:21 (ESV) states that: “Many are the
plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand”. Therefore, leaders
should rely on God’s will and ways with their humility to develop organization.
Reference
Cater, J. and Beal, B. (2015). Servant Leadership in Multigenerational Family Firms. Journal of
Applied Management and Entrepreneurship, 20 (4), 25-48. Retrieved from:
http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/docview/1749655588?pq-
origsite=summon&accountid=12085
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Morris, J., Brotheridge, C. and Urbanski, J. (2005). Bringing Humility to Leadership:
Antecedents and Consequences of Leader Humility. Human Relations, 58 (10), 1323-
1350. Retrieved from:
http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/docview/231523313?pq-
origsite=summon
Tuan, L. (2016). How servant leadership nurtures knowledges sharing. International Journal of
Public Sector Management, 29(1), 91-108. Doi: 10.1108/ijpsm-06-2015-0112.
