Discussion Board Research Question 1: How can a person become a successful leader
by being humble?
The best leaders are selfless and place their team’s well being ahead of their
own personal interests (Williamson, 2017), which is one way to inspire loyalty among
employees. Successful leaders are willing to “get their hands dirty” by rolling up their
sleeves and pitching in to help the team when required and more importantly, they make
their employees feel valued (Williamson, 2017). Showing humility does not indicate
weakness as some may believe, but rather it is a reflection of confidence in one’s
abilities to take ownership and responsibility over a group or team. Great leaders have
the ability to inspire and motivate their employees through humble acts, which is found
throughout scripture. For instance, in his letter to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul
wrote:
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value
others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the
interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset
as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God
something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking
the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness (Philippians 2:3-7, New
International Version).
Jesus is the perfect model of servant leadership. Based on the theory of putting
followers’ needs first, the concept of servant leadership has grown in recent years and
studies have determined that benefits include increased credibility and trust, as well as
positive reports of job satisfaction and work engagement (Van Dierendonck & Patterson,
2015).
Discussion Board Research Question 2: Why is it an important leadership trait to serve
others first?
It is important to put the needs of others first because this display of care and
love cements the team’s bond and unit cohesiveness can make or break an
organization. If a team works well, they are successful; if a team is dysfunctional,
chances are the organization will suffer in a variety of ways through the loss of
resources and productivity. According to Chiniara and Bentein (2016), servant
leadership results in high organizational commitment and low employee turnover.
Furthermore, servant leaders instill a sense of empowerment among their employees
leading them to be more creative and innovative – this pays off for the organization
when the new ideas lead to improved services and new product development. In order
to run an effective and productive team, each individual must be proficient in their tasks
and when a leader takes the time to ensure employee development occurs, this
investment makes the team stronger and ultimately leads to mission success.
Discussion Board Research Question 3: What is the importance of relying on Jesus’ will
and ways as it relates to leadership?
By following in Jesus’ footsteps, servant leaders can achieve not only
organizational success through team building – they can also win those around them to
Christ through their acts of love, humility and kindness. In his sermon on the mount,
Jesus spoke about being salt and light of the world and said to his disciples, “Let your
light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in
heaven” (Matthew 5:13-16, NIV). By exemplifying the core values and qualities of
servant leadership, believers are able to demonstrate the love of God through their acts
and personal testimony.
In closing, it is also important to note that servant leadership requires work,
dedication and patience. Constantly putting the needs of others can often take an
emotional, mental and physical toll and leaders will often face challenges through those
trying times. However, it is important to stay focused on God and to turn to Him for
strength, wisdom and guidance. Psalm 46:1 states, “God is our refuge and strength, an
ever-present help in trouble” (NIV); during their troubles, servant leaders can always
rely on God to be there to lean on.
References
Chiniara, M., & Bentein, K. (2016). Linking servant leadership to individual performance:
Differentiating the mediating role of autonomy, competence and relatedness need
satisfaction. The Leadership Quarterly, 27(1), 124-141.
doi:10.1016/j.leaqua.2015.08.004
Van Dierendonck, D. & Patterson, K. (2015). Compassionate love as a cornerstone of
servant leadership: An integration of previous theorizing and research. Journal of
Business Ethics, 128(1), 119-131. doi:10.1007/s10551-014-2085-z
Williamson, C. (2017). The Importance Of Humility In Leadership. Retrieved from
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2017/09/14/the-importance-of-
humility-in-leadership/#76fc2df52253
