Servant Leadership Assignment
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Servant Leadership Assignment
Liberty University
CJUS 610
Blake LaFond
October 10th 2025
Abstract
In this study I will discuss the literature review, leadership interviews and the group discussions.
From reviewing the literature I learnt the concept of servant leadership although it is biblical
based did not include Christ as part of the appeal. Through the literature review and my
personal life experience I found commonalities in servant leadership traits. The literature review
taught me the qualities of a true leader, a servant leader which are listening, empathy, healing,
awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of
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people and building trust and relationships through these qualities. I learnt several of the
qualities outlined in literature review, to include: listening, empathy, awareness, persuasion, and
commitment to growth of people. I found that some people just spend their life without a
purpose and some live a life with a purpose. God has given us a life, brain, wisdom and made us
able to gain knowledge and improve our lives.
Major traits of a Leader:
●Clear communication: Leaders are always very clear about their communication. They
keep their communication direct, professional and respectful both in writing and verbal
communication. They are not passive aggressive and don't hesitate to give direct
directions to take care of the business.
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●Work for their employees: Leaders work for their employees unlike some people who
are not true leaders and when they get the power and a position they think everyone
works for them.
●Passionate: Leaders are always passionate about their work, team, environment and
employees wellbeing.
●Don’t run after popularity: They are open to criticism and use it as a development tool.
True leaders always welcome feedback and keep their doors open for the discussions.
They don't believe in individuality instead they believe in team, team work and team
strength.
●Positive and encouraging: True leaders are always positive and keep the positive energy
going even when things are not right they make sure to keep their and everyone around
at times morale high. They encourage people to move forward and help them in career
development. They are the best mentors who create future leaders.
●Respect others: True leaders believe in respecting others and through this respect they
are the best in relationship and trust building. They not only build relationships and trust
but make sure it's sustainable.
“Perhaps the most important characteristic of good leaders is that they’re continuous
learners. They put their education first, whether through formal learning like building
their skills through management degree programs or through day-to-day attention to
other departments and roles. A good leader always wants to know more” (Walden
University, 2023).
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Good leaders may not be good in everything but they are good in something. Leaders lead and
create future leaders so expecting employees to be good in just one thing is not a great idea for
growth. “. According to the article, the Hedgehog Concept states the contrary, writing that
leaders should figure out what the company is good at and push forward from there (Wexlar et
al, n. d.).
“Servant leadership is a form of moral-based leadership where leaders tend to prioritize the fulfillment of
The needs of followers, namely employees, customers and other stakeholders, rather than satisfying their
Personal needs” (Canavesi & Minelli, 2021).
Major traits of servant leadership:
Servant and leader are two words which normally are considered too far in the meaning but when you
Put them together and become servant leaders. “The servant-leader is the servant first. It begins with
The natural feeling that one wants to serve. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to
Lead. The best test is: do those served grow as persons: do they, while being served,
Become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become
Servants? And, what is the effect on the least privileged in society; will they benefit, or,
At least, not be further deprived?”(Spears, 2010).
Following are some of the characteristics which make servant leader a true leader and those are following:
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Good Listeners: The best values a leader can be recognized by are the fair communication and decision
Making skills. Servant leaders always keep their doors open for communications and always listen to
Other’s concerns, complaints and feedback.
Empathy: Servant leaders always try to be empathized and showing empathy makes them a true and
Approachable leader. They make sure to make you feel they are paying attention to what you are saying
And will relate to the situation to make the other person feel comfortable and peaceful.
Healing: It’s in the character of a servant leader to have healing qualities. They respect their relationships
And believe in healing during the times of hardship. “Although this is a part of being human, servant
leaders recognize that they have an opportunity to help make whole those with whom they come in
contact.
In his essay, The Servant as Leader, Greenleaf (1977/2002) writes, “There is something
Subtle communicated to one who is being served and led if, implicit in the compact between
Servant-leader and led, is the understanding that the search for wholeness is something they
Share” (Spears, 2010).
Awareness: Self-awareness and general awareness is a strong trait of a servant leader. Their
Awareness helps them to better understand the values, ethics and values. It brings respect, integrity,
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Values and accountability which are the best leadership characteristics.
Persuasion: Servant leaders are resilient and their best quality is their persuasion. They don’t
Enjoy their power and it does not get to their head they always listen to others and respect others
Opinions and suggestions.
Conceptualization: “Servant leaders seek to nurture their abilities to dream great
Dreams. The ability to look at a problem or an organization from a conceptualizing
Perspective means that one must think beyond day-to-day realities. For many leaders,
This is a characteristic that requires discipline and practice. The traditional leader is
Consumed by the need to achieve short-term operational goals.
The leader who wishes to also be a servant leader must stretch his or her thinking to
Encompass broader-based conceptual thinking. Within organizations, conceptualization is, By
its very nature, a key role of boards of trustees or directors” (Spears, 2010).
Building Community: Servant leaders believe in building community and they understand that
unity is strength. They make sure they bring everyone together and include everyone so none
feels left alone.
What would it look like to bring the notion of servant leadership to a police organization?
Police organizations believe in control and bringing servant leadership to a police organization
will shift the leadership roles from control to service. Where it's very important for the
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managers to know about the personal lives of their employees, that's not the only quality to
ensure effective leadership in the organization. Leaders in criminal justice system organizations
must have other leadership qualities to run the operations successfully. Effective leadership
focuses on communication and understanding their employees. Another important quality is
being a good listener and keeping doors open to receive the feedback. Motivating the
employees through incentives like giving them extra time off, early out, taking them for lunch or
coffee or meeting with the employees on a personal level to ask about their life goals and
dreams. Leaders must possess conflict management skills. Leaders must show compassion and
empathy. Criminal justice organization employees, especially law enforcement officers see a lot
of traumatic incidents everyday which impacts their mental health tremendously. It's the
leadership’s responsibility to check an employee’s wellbeing and mental health. “Managerial
attitudes and skills in relation to mental health are pivotal to the effectiveness of a cooperative
nexus between the employee, their health professional, and the psycho-social work
environment” (Barath, 2020).
Would this change require a cultural change?
A true leader is the one who takes care of his / her employee’s welfare and wellbeing. An
Employee’s personal life always has an impact on his/her professional life. You can never
separate both personal and professional lives. What happens at home always has an impact at
work. Managers who are well aware of their employees' personal lives are always successful.
To maintain a healthy professional environment, yes it's very important for the managers to get
involved with the employees personal lives to the limit where they don't feel comfortable and at
the same time they are aware of what is happening in their employee’s personal lives. Managers
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must get to know their employees' families and their achievements and hardships. It builds a
relationship of trust and empathy between the managers and their employees. Little things like
celebrating an employee’s birthday or congratulating an employee on their new home purchase
can make a positive impact. “Managers do not merely hold a position but possess a distinct
responsibility requiring persistent efforts to proactively develop themselves and motivate,
inspire, train, and develop others. Through personal self-analysis and self-discipline, managers
can develop those principles that have proven effective and influential with others” (Willis,
2011). If managers want to motivate their employees they must encourage communication,
listen to their employees even their Persian problems and give them moral support. Managers
must take care of their employees' mental health and wellbeing.
What would be the benefits and pitfalls of servant leadership in a police organization?
In christian worldview leadership should be full of compassion. Having compassion means
listening to others, giving them respect and offering help to the needy. As christians we believe
in the concept of servant leadership which means leaders are there to serve and uplift others
rather than showing their power and misusing their authority. “Scripture affirms that just and
fair dealings should be linked to every aspect of government— executive, legislative, and of
course, judicial. This view of justice certainly involves protecting the weak from the rich and
powerful, as the prophets warn of impending doom on those who seek to use their wealth to
gain political influence via corruption and graft (Isaiah 10:1-2).
Criminal justice organization leaders must focus on high moral values, respecting others,
reaching out for help and showing emptiness and compassion to those who are going through
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hard times and need help. “Those with jobs in criminal justice must abide by professional
standards, but they can still extend empathy and compassion to incarcerated individuals, while
also providing an exceptional example of what it means to lead a life guided by Christian morals”
(Christian Faith in a Criminal Justice Career | University of the Cumberland’s, 2020).
It's leadership’s responsibility to provide a healthy environment to their employees where they
learn, grow, achieve and serve with confidence.
Outline a brief plan of implementing the change necessary to apply the ideas of servant Leadership
in a police organization.
First of all before implementing a servant leadership in a police organization there must be a pre
planning and assessment of the new vision. “Effective law enforcement leadership involves an
affinity for relying on autocratic leadership decisions or democratic decision-making processes.
Of course, police executives are looked to for command decisions in circumstances, such as
crisis or tragedy. Yet, research has proven that over time, leaders who provide direction but
avoid domination and encourage participation, mutual respect, and independence of thought
achieve higher-quality organizational results.4 Servant-leadership theory, then, is the ideal
behavioral model to influence the law enforcement agency’s culture to practice democratic
problem solving and decision making”(Gardner & Reece, 2012).
Servant leadership in police organization simply means that the leaders must serve others
rather than serving themselves. Servant leadership has deep roots in spiritual literature and
leaders must act like servants and focus on service to others. Leaders must have a vision to
service and it should be the motivation for everyone in the organization. There must be clear
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guidelines and principals of collaboration and partnership with the community. The police
organization must align their values, mission and goals based on servant leadership traits.
Conduct a needs assessment: The transformation between the current leadership to the new
servant leadership it's important to recognize the gaps and the areas which will need
improvement with the new servant leadership.
Clear Vision: Servant leadership focuses on the wellbeing of their officers and the betterment of
their community. All the policies must be very clear and simple to understand and must be
based on serving others with respect. The police organization’s vision must be based on
benefiting the community and making it a safer place for all with the partnership of the
community.
Training: Police organizations must invest in training all the leaders and officers including
civilian staff on the principals of servant leadership which include active listening, empathy,
respect and empowerment.
Community oriented policing: police organizations which will serve on servant leadership traits
must focus on community oriented policing models and must provide and equip the offices and
all the employees with the skills and knowledge about how to connect, collaborate and
empower the community they serve.
Accountability and transparency: Police organizations can only become successful in serving if
they implement accountability and transparency. The public only trusts the organization who
held their own accountable for their actions.
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Encourage and reward the officers: Police organizations which follow servant leadership traits
must encourage and reward the officers who show empathy, respect and integrity while serving
and making the community a safer place for all.
Monitor progress: A continuity in monitoring the progress of the servant leadership programs
and having sustainable policies will make the servant leadership model of policing a success.
““The servant-leader is servant first…it begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve,
to serve first. [Servant leaders] make sure that other people’s highest priority needs are being
served.”(Badger, 2019).
Conclusion
A servant leader’s vision gives his life a meaning and to work towards that vision a mission is
created and to accomplish the mission they have to have values. The vision helps to explain the
values and the mission provides the purpose and the dedication. The servant leadership vision
helps to explain the values and the mission provides the purpose and the dedication. I believe
the best servant leaders are those who have learned how to balance servanthood and
leadership. I believe that if competent Christian leaders constantly seek to put Christ’s mission
ahead of their own glory and to put the good of the group before their own desires, then their
followers will be inspired to accept their influence. I will conclude this article by offering my own
suggestions for blending the aspects of servant and leader into an effective biblical model of
leadership. Servant: One who humbly takes care of the needs of others? Leadership is the
process of influencing others toward achieving group goals. Servant leader is the one who
influences others toward the accomplishment of group goals primarily by making sure their
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highest-priority needs are met. A style of leadership that places the good of the organization
above the self-interest of the leader.
Deuteronomy 28:1:68 “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to
do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above
all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you
obey the voice of the Lord your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in
the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of
your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket
and your kneading bowl” (nod).
A person’s vision gives his or her life a meaning and to work towards that vision a mission is
created and to accomplish the mission we have to have values. The vision helps to explain the
values and the mission provides the purpose and the dedication. “While the vision explains the
situation and the value of the organization in the future, the mission provides us with the
reasons for the existence of an organization, which is not only in the competitive struggle for
greater profits” (Collins and Porras, 2008). A personal vision, mission and values are based on a
person's knowledge, expertise, conviction and the motivations. The purpose of having a vision,
mission and values is to further social development and integration of an individual. Every
individual who has vision, mission and values become a productive part of a society and
contribute towards the community’s wellbeing and development. The value created brings
benefits primarily to society rather than to private individuals so having a vision is not only for
an individual but it helps the society. The significance of the mission can be easily understood by
Steve job’s words when he defined apple’s mission in 1980 "Man is the creator of change in the
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world. As such, it should be above all systems and structures, without being subordinate to
them (thebalance, 2017).
References:
Walden University. (2023). What makes a good leader? Ten essential qualities to learn.
Www.waldenu.edu. https://www.waldenu.edu/programs/business/resource/what-makes-a-
good leader-ten-essential-qualities-to-learn
Wexlar, C., Wycoff, M. A., & Fischer, C.(n. d.). “Good to Great” Policing: Application of Business
Management Principles in the Public Sector. Police Executive Resarch Forum.
Spears, L. (2010). Character and Servant Leadership: Ten Characteristics of Caring Leaders.
Regent University; Regent University. https://www.regent.edu/journal/journal-of-
virtues leadership/character-and-servant-leadership-ten-characteristics-of-effective-caring-
leaders/
Canavesi, A., & Minelli, E. (2021). Servant leadership: A systematic literature review and network
analysis. Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal, 34(3), 267–289.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10672-021-09381-3
Gardner, B., & Reece, J. (2012, June 1). Revolutionizing Policing Through Servant-Leadership and
Quality Management. FBI: Law Enforcement Bulletin.
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https://leb.fbi.gov/articles/featuredarticles/revolutionizing-policing-through-servant-leadership-
and-quality-management
Barath, I. (2020). The Role of Supportive Leadership Practices in Maintaining the Health and
Wellness of Law Enforcement Personnel and Organizations. Policechiefmagazine.org.
https://www.policechiefmagazine.org/the-role-of-supportive-leadership-health-and-wellness/
Willis, D. (2011, March 1). Perspective: Principles of Effective Law Enforcement Leadership |
FBI: Law Enforcement Bulletin. FBI: Law Enforcement Bulletin.
https://leb.fbi.gov/articles/perspective/perspective-principles-of-effective-law-
enforcement leadership
Christian Faith in a Criminal Justice Career | University of the Cumberlands. (2020, October 13).
Www.ucumberlands.edu. https://www.ucumberlands.edu/blog/christian-faith-criminal-
justice career
What is the fruit of the Holy Spirit? (n.d.). GotQuestions.org.
https://www.gotquestions.org/fruit of-the-Holy-Spirit.html
Badger, J. K. (2019, November 6). Perspective: Increasing Officer Resilience Through Servant
Leadership. FBI: Law Enforcement Bulletin.
https://leb.fbi.gov/articles/perspective/perspectiveincreasing-officer-resilience-through-
servant-leadership
